Joseph Robert Miller
Serial Killer and Rapist
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois
TIME PERIOD
1977-1993
VICTIMS
6 confirmed
Joseph Robert Miller, born Joseph Robert Tarczon on January 15, 1955, is an American serial killer and rapist responsible for the murders of at least six women in Chicago and Peoria, Illinois, between 1977 and 1993. His criminal activities began with the disappearance of 31-year-old Martha Ryan on October 25, 1977, whose body was discovered eight days later in Skokie, Illinois, leading to Miller's interrogation due to matching witness descriptions. Following the discovery of additional victims, including 22-year-old Ann Iecile Maxham, Miller was apprehended in October 1993 and subsequently convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder. He was initially sentenced to death, but this was later commuted to life imprisonment, and he is currently incarcerated at Dixon Correctional Center in Illinois. Significant evidence included witness testimonies linking Miller to the victims and forensic analysis of crime scenes that corroborated his involvement.
Joseph Robert Miller is believed to have been motivated by a combination of his traumatic childhood and a deep-seated anger towards women, which fueled his violent crimes. Some speculate that his history of abuse and neglect contributed to his development into a serial killer, with a pattern of targeting vulnerable women. Additionally, there are theories that he may have had accomplices or that some of his crimes remain unsolved, suggesting a broader network of violence than previously recognized.
The Dark Legacy of Joseph Robert Miller
The Man Behind the Crimes
Born as Joseph Robert Tarczon on January 15, 1955, in Illinois, Joseph Robert Miller’s life was marked by turmoil from the start. Abandoned at an orphanage shortly after birth, he was adopted by a strict couple from Chicago, the Millers, who changed his surname to match theirs. His upbringing was fraught with physical abuse, leading to deep-seated anger issues that manifested in petty crime from a young age.
Throughout the late 1960s and into 1977, Miller's rap sheet grew with charges ranging from theft to carjacking and sexual assault. Despite his criminal tendencies, he often managed to evade harsh sentences through plea deals, resulting in only short stints in prison. By the early 1970s, Miller was a restless spirit, living in various cities like Bloomington and Waukegan in Illinois, and even Virginia, before finally settling in Skokie in 1977. It was here, working as a pizza delivery man and married to a local woman, that his dark path truly unfolded.
A String of Murders
The eerie calm of Skokie was shattered on October 25, 1977, when Martha Ryan, a 31-year-old convicted sex worker known as Martha E. Kowalski, vanished. Witnesses last saw her with a young man driving an orange Chevrolet Vega. Just eight days later, her body was discovered wrapped in a blanket near a liquor store, dangerously close to Miller’s residence.
Miller, his description and vehicle matching those last seen with Ryan, was quickly brought in for questioning. As the investigation intensified, the body of 22-year-old Ann Iecile Maxham, also a convicted sex worker, was discovered. A sex worker came forward, linking both Miller and his wife, Marsha, to the victims, revealing that they frequently availed themselves of such services. This testimony led to Miller’s arrest on November 5, 1977, for both murders.
The search of Miller’s apartment and car revealed evidence tying him to an armed robbery in Skokie, a kidnapping in Cook County, and an aggravated battery in DuPage County. He was also suspected in several other murders dating back to 1976. However, procedural errors during his arrest and the search of his property led to the suppression of crucial evidence. With his wife refusing to testify against him, prosecutors offered Miller a plea deal, dismissing the kidnapping and battery charges, which could have led to the death penalty, in exchange for a guilty plea to robbery. He accepted and was sentenced to 30 years, with the possibility of parole after 15.
Prison, Parole, and a Deadly Relapse
Incarcerated at the Illinois River Correctional Center, Miller seemed to turn over a new leaf. He engaged in rehabilitation programs and was seen as a model prisoner. A severe leg injury left him physically disabled, earning him a state disability pension. By April 1993, having served the minimum term, Miller was paroled. He moved to a nursing home in Peoria, where he was a familiar, friendly face, attending church regularly and working as a day laborer.
But the peace was short-lived. By late August 1993, Miller was doing home repairs for 88-year-old Bernice Fagotte. Soon after, a newspaper deliveryman noticed her absence, triggering concern. As authorities began investigating, the bodies of three women—Marcia Logue, Helen Dorrance, and Sandra L. Csesznegi—were found in various stages of decomposition in a Peoria drainage ditch.
The investigation revealed that all three women were residents of Peoria with ties to prostitution. Logue was last seen entering a maroon car driven by a man matching Miller’s description. With Fagotte’s car found abandoned near Miller’s residence and his criminal history, he became a suspect yet again.
The Final Trial
On September 29, 1993, Miller was questioned as the investigation closed in. A knife found in Fagotte’s car, bearing his fingerprints, sealed his fate. Charged with burglary and later with the murders, evidence mounted against him.
A thorough search of his apartment uncovered women’s clothes, bloodstained sheets, and a mattress, along with female hair and fibers. In Fagotte’s Oldsmobile, more damning evidence awaited. Witnesses, including a neighbor and a nursing home security guard, placed Miller with Fagotte and her car.
Forensic examiner Glenn Schubert confirmed through DNA analysis that Miller was the killer of the three women. Under mounting evidence, Miller’s attorneys sought a change of venue, moving the trial to Springfield. Initially pleading guilty, Miller later claimed insanity, citing a multiple personality disorder due to childhood abuse. However, the jury found him guilty on all counts, sentencing him to death.
Life Behind Bars
Despite not being charged for Fagotte’s murder, her case was closed with Miller as the prime suspect, her body never found. His death sentence was commuted to life without parole in 2002, amid Illinois’ moratorium on the death penalty, which was abolished in 2011.
In 2004, Miller confessed to the murders of Valarie Sloan and Stacey Morrison, but his claims were dismissed as false, with authorities believing another man was responsible. Yet, Miller remains a lingering shadow over these unsolved cases.
As of March 2025, Joseph Robert Miller continues to serve his life sentence at Dixon Correctional Center, a chilling reminder of the darkness that once prowled the streets of Illinois.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Victim Reported Missing
31-year-old Martha Ryan, a convicted sex worker, goes missing in Chicago.
Miller Arrested
Joseph Robert Miller is arrested and charged with the murders of Martha Ryan and Ann Iecile Maxham.
Miller Convicted
Miller pleads guilty to robbery and is sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Miller Paroled
Miller is paroled after serving 15 years, moving to a nursing home in Peoria.
Bodies Found
Three bodies of women involved in prostitution are discovered in Peoria.
Miller Arrested Again
Miller is arrested again after evidence links him to the murders of three women.
Trial Begins
Miller's trial begins, where he initially pleads guilty but later claims insanity.
Miller Sentenced to Death
Miller is found guilty of the murders and sentenced to death.
Death Penalty Commuted
Governor Ryan commutes Miller's death sentence to life imprisonment without parole.
Joseph Robert Miller, born Joseph Robert Tarczon on January 15, 1955, is an American serial killer and rapist responsible for the murders of at least six women in Chicago and Peoria, Illinois, between 1977 and 1993. His criminal activities began with the disappearance of 31-year-old Martha Ryan on October 25, 1977, whose body was discovered eight days later in Skokie, Illinois, leading to Miller's interrogation due to matching witness descriptions. Following the discovery of additional victims, including 22-year-old Ann Iecile Maxham, Miller was apprehended in October 1993 and subsequently convicted of multiple counts of first-degree murder. He was initially sentenced to death, but this was later commuted to life imprisonment, and he is currently incarcerated at Dixon Correctional Center in Illinois. Significant evidence included witness testimonies linking Miller to the victims and forensic analysis of crime scenes that corroborated his involvement.
Joseph Robert Miller is believed to have been motivated by a combination of his traumatic childhood and a deep-seated anger towards women, which fueled his violent crimes. Some speculate that his history of abuse and neglect contributed to his development into a serial killer, with a pattern of targeting vulnerable women. Additionally, there are theories that he may have had accomplices or that some of his crimes remain unsolved, suggesting a broader network of violence than previously recognized.
The Dark Legacy of Joseph Robert Miller
The Man Behind the Crimes
Born as Joseph Robert Tarczon on January 15, 1955, in Illinois, Joseph Robert Miller’s life was marked by turmoil from the start. Abandoned at an orphanage shortly after birth, he was adopted by a strict couple from Chicago, the Millers, who changed his surname to match theirs. His upbringing was fraught with physical abuse, leading to deep-seated anger issues that manifested in petty crime from a young age.
Throughout the late 1960s and into 1977, Miller's rap sheet grew with charges ranging from theft to carjacking and sexual assault. Despite his criminal tendencies, he often managed to evade harsh sentences through plea deals, resulting in only short stints in prison. By the early 1970s, Miller was a restless spirit, living in various cities like Bloomington and Waukegan in Illinois, and even Virginia, before finally settling in Skokie in 1977. It was here, working as a pizza delivery man and married to a local woman, that his dark path truly unfolded.
A String of Murders
The eerie calm of Skokie was shattered on October 25, 1977, when Martha Ryan, a 31-year-old convicted sex worker known as Martha E. Kowalski, vanished. Witnesses last saw her with a young man driving an orange Chevrolet Vega. Just eight days later, her body was discovered wrapped in a blanket near a liquor store, dangerously close to Miller’s residence.
Miller, his description and vehicle matching those last seen with Ryan, was quickly brought in for questioning. As the investigation intensified, the body of 22-year-old Ann Iecile Maxham, also a convicted sex worker, was discovered. A sex worker came forward, linking both Miller and his wife, Marsha, to the victims, revealing that they frequently availed themselves of such services. This testimony led to Miller’s arrest on November 5, 1977, for both murders.
The search of Miller’s apartment and car revealed evidence tying him to an armed robbery in Skokie, a kidnapping in Cook County, and an aggravated battery in DuPage County. He was also suspected in several other murders dating back to 1976. However, procedural errors during his arrest and the search of his property led to the suppression of crucial evidence. With his wife refusing to testify against him, prosecutors offered Miller a plea deal, dismissing the kidnapping and battery charges, which could have led to the death penalty, in exchange for a guilty plea to robbery. He accepted and was sentenced to 30 years, with the possibility of parole after 15.
Prison, Parole, and a Deadly Relapse
Incarcerated at the Illinois River Correctional Center, Miller seemed to turn over a new leaf. He engaged in rehabilitation programs and was seen as a model prisoner. A severe leg injury left him physically disabled, earning him a state disability pension. By April 1993, having served the minimum term, Miller was paroled. He moved to a nursing home in Peoria, where he was a familiar, friendly face, attending church regularly and working as a day laborer.
But the peace was short-lived. By late August 1993, Miller was doing home repairs for 88-year-old Bernice Fagotte. Soon after, a newspaper deliveryman noticed her absence, triggering concern. As authorities began investigating, the bodies of three women—Marcia Logue, Helen Dorrance, and Sandra L. Csesznegi—were found in various stages of decomposition in a Peoria drainage ditch.
The investigation revealed that all three women were residents of Peoria with ties to prostitution. Logue was last seen entering a maroon car driven by a man matching Miller’s description. With Fagotte’s car found abandoned near Miller’s residence and his criminal history, he became a suspect yet again.
The Final Trial
On September 29, 1993, Miller was questioned as the investigation closed in. A knife found in Fagotte’s car, bearing his fingerprints, sealed his fate. Charged with burglary and later with the murders, evidence mounted against him.
A thorough search of his apartment uncovered women’s clothes, bloodstained sheets, and a mattress, along with female hair and fibers. In Fagotte’s Oldsmobile, more damning evidence awaited. Witnesses, including a neighbor and a nursing home security guard, placed Miller with Fagotte and her car.
Forensic examiner Glenn Schubert confirmed through DNA analysis that Miller was the killer of the three women. Under mounting evidence, Miller’s attorneys sought a change of venue, moving the trial to Springfield. Initially pleading guilty, Miller later claimed insanity, citing a multiple personality disorder due to childhood abuse. However, the jury found him guilty on all counts, sentencing him to death.
Life Behind Bars
Despite not being charged for Fagotte’s murder, her case was closed with Miller as the prime suspect, her body never found. His death sentence was commuted to life without parole in 2002, amid Illinois’ moratorium on the death penalty, which was abolished in 2011.
In 2004, Miller confessed to the murders of Valarie Sloan and Stacey Morrison, but his claims were dismissed as false, with authorities believing another man was responsible. Yet, Miller remains a lingering shadow over these unsolved cases.
As of March 2025, Joseph Robert Miller continues to serve his life sentence at Dixon Correctional Center, a chilling reminder of the darkness that once prowled the streets of Illinois.
Sources
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Victim Reported Missing
31-year-old Martha Ryan, a convicted sex worker, goes missing in Chicago.
Miller Arrested
Joseph Robert Miller is arrested and charged with the murders of Martha Ryan and Ann Iecile Maxham.
Miller Convicted
Miller pleads guilty to robbery and is sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Miller Paroled
Miller is paroled after serving 15 years, moving to a nursing home in Peoria.
Bodies Found
Three bodies of women involved in prostitution are discovered in Peoria.
Miller Arrested Again
Miller is arrested again after evidence links him to the murders of three women.
Trial Begins
Miller's trial begins, where he initially pleads guilty but later claims insanity.
Miller Sentenced to Death
Miller is found guilty of the murders and sentenced to death.
Death Penalty Commuted
Governor Ryan commutes Miller's death sentence to life imprisonment without parole.