re: The Murder of Rebekah Gould

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William Alama Miller, 44, now a resident of Cottage Grove, Ore. was arrested Saturday, Nov. 7, by a Special Agent of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Rebekah Christian Gould, 22.

The arrest occurred in Lane County Oregon after the state police special agent assigned to the case learned Miller had returned to his home following an extended stay in the Philippines.

Izard County Sheriff Jack Yancey said on Monday, that if Miller fights extradition, getting him back to Izard County to face charges “could take months.”

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Gould was 22 years old when she was murdered. In the days leading up to the discovery of her body on September 27, 2004, family members had reported Ms. Gould missing, leading to a community-based search across Melbourne and much of Izard County. Her body was discovered 16 years ago on a hillside off Arkansas Highway 9 south of Melbourne.

Miller was living in Texas and visited Izard County in 2004.

Upon learning of the arrest, Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police stated, “The special agents assigned to this case never abandoned any hope of finding the necessary evidence and facts to lead them to a suspect and an arrest. This case is a testament to the Criminal Investigation Division and the devotion the special agents assigned to the division possess in helping police and sheriff’s department across Arkansas with their toughest cases.”

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There’s been another turn in the Rebekah Gould murder case.

Gould was murdered 16 years ago, and there was a recent arrest in the case.

A man from Texas at that time, William Alma Miller, now 44, was visiting Izard County 16 years ago, and he was recently arrested in the case while returning to his Oregon home from the Philippines. Miller is fighting extradition.

However, the probable cause or causes for Miller’s arrest will not be known for the time being, and maybe won’t be until he is brought to trial.

The reason: Circuit Judge Tim Weaver has signed an order sealing the affidavit for probable cause for arrest.

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The affidavit contains, in addition to other information, the reason a person was arrested, and in this case, was charged with a crime.

Here are some of the reasons contained in the order to seal:

The affidavit includes sensitive information regarding evidence and locations.

The public interest in the case, as evidenced on social media. Some members of the general public have undertaken their own investigation separate and apart from law enforcement efforts.

There is a good faith reason to believe that further evidence may yet be discovered by law enforcement.

And to ensure any and all relevant evidence in the case will be preserved and not destroyed, concealed, or tampered with by the general public.

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