Sentencing delayed in Missoula murder case as defense argues for new trial

After Miles Miller was convicted last September of killing his mother in 2023, his sentencing has been delayed several times as the defense argues for a new trial.

Over the course of last year’s proceedings before Judge Leslie Halligan, County Attorney Matt Jennings and his team called several witnesses and used DNA evidence to argue that Miles Miller killed his mother in a rage over his late father’s inheritance. The defense, led by attorney Jami Rebsom, called into question the integrity of the state’s evidence and investigation, arguing through questioning and testimony that police hadn’t properly investigated any alternatives and DNA analysis ruled out Miles Miller’s presence from key evidence.

After about six hours of deliberation, jurors found Miller guilty of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence.

After the verdict, Miller’s sentencing was initially scheduled for Jan. 22, 2026. But that sentencing still hasn’t taken place — it’s been continuously delayed as Miller’s defense team fights for the whole trial to get thrown out.

The defense initially filed for a new trial last October. This motion was sealed and is not publicly available, but the state response filed soon after is.

On March 23, the defense team filed their amended motion for a new trial.

The defense raises several issues in the motion that they argue warrant a nullification of the guilty verdict and a new trial. In its response to the initial motion and its response to the new motion, the state argues that none of these issues warrant overturning the trial.

In the motions, the defense argued that evidence was improperly handled and chain of custody was not maintained. The motions also argue that the evidence was insufficient to convict Miller. For instance, the amended motion states that handwriting analysis was unable to prove that notes found in the house were written by Miller. These notes were a key part of the state’s case, as they contained references to Miller’s planning process for the murder.

“Defendant has never provided any evidence of tampering or mishandling evidence that could have impaired the veracity of physical evidence or testing,” the state wrote in its response to the motions, filed on Dec. 1, 2025. “The context, dates, location where they were found and subject matter of the notes all contributed to the jury’s understanding of the author and his intentions.”

The motions also raised issues about jurors.

One of the jurors was replaced during deliberations after he reported the case was aggravating his mental health conditions. Rebsom submitted an affidavit stating that she and co-counsel Kirsten Mull Core had a conference call with the juror following the verdict, and the juror stated that he was the sole holdout against a guilty verdict, and didn’t believe the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. This call was not recorded.

The defense argued that this meant Miller was deprived of his due process rights.

“By excusing the lone holdout, the Court denied Miles the right to a fair and unanimous jury verdict,” the amended motion states.

In response, the state said the juror’s dismissal had nothing to do with his status as a possible holdout.

“Even if the Defense affidavit were accurate, there is no allegation of any external influence on Juror 1,” the response states. “Any issues he had were internal to the jury deliberation process and a result of his post-traumatic stress. An unrecorded hearsay statement from defense counsel should not serve as the basis for a new trial.”

The response also points out that the defense didn’t object to the juror’s dismissal at the time.

The motions for a new trial said Jennings, who led the prosecution team during trial, made an improper statement during closing arguments. The defense motions allege that Jennings argued to the jury that unknown female DNA found under Teri Miller’s fingernails was her own.

“This was a blatant falsity as the female DNA was unknown and not tested,” the motion states. “As a result, Miles should be granted a new trial.”

In response, Jennings included a portion of the trial transcript. In closing statements, the transcript shows Jennings pointing out that Teri’s hands were soaked in her own blood, but Jennings did not comment on DNA testing or results related to it.

“Mostly what is found under Teri’s fingernails was that they were soaked in her own blood,” the transcript shows Jennings saying in his closing argument.

In the conclusion of the state’s most recent filing in response to the motions, Jennings argues the judge should strike the amended motion, saying it’s a “do-over” of the defense’s original now-sealed motion.

“Despite delaying sentencing for months and waiting on this transcript, Defendant did not cite to the transcript a single time in its Amended Motion,” Jennings wrote in the state’s response.

The sentencing was initially supposed to happen this January, but has been delayed multiple times as this motion proceeds through the court.

“It’s been eight months since he’s been convicted at trial, and I know the family and the community are anxious for justice,” Jennings told the Missoulian in a recent phone call.

A hearing on the motion for new trial is scheduled for May 26 before Judge Leslie Halligan in Missoula County District Court. There is no sentencing scheduled.