In the wake of a nightmare, a young father and mother murdered, their child abducted, family-friend Heather Keene is remembering some things with distinct clarity.
"He came at Christmas, and I remember when he picked that baby up, you could see a twinkle in his eyes," she said. "We'll make sure Kassidy knows that."
Kassidy is the 6-month-old daughter of U.S. Army Sgts. Timothy and Randi Miller, who were both shot and killed March 1 in their home outside Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Wash. Kassidy was abducted but later recovered by police, unharmed.
"The last memory I have of them is the love they had for that baby," said Keene. "I couldn't hold the baby that week, because they were so attached and such loving parents."
Timothy Miller graduated from Douglas High School in 1998 and went straight into the military.
"He was a good boy, who wanted to serve his country, go into the military and make something of his life," said Keene.
Keene is a long-time friend of Miller's mother, Tami Gray, and his stepfather, Randy Gray.
"Randy's been in the Ranchos volunteer fire department for 20 years," said Keene. "Tim helped his dad, and I think the direction of his life was to help people."
Over a 10-year career, Miller served in South Korea, Colombia and Iraq as a medic. He met Randi, also a medic, at Fort Bragg in North California, and the couple married. They both became sergeants, and Miller became a medic trainer. They were eventually stationed in Tacoma where they had Kassidy.
"Timothy was a good husband, spoiled his wife rotten." said Keene. "When she was pregnant, he would talk to the baby. He was very good to her. And when that baby came, he was a proud father."
On Monday, the Gray family left for Washington to pick up Kassidy. Keene and her husband Brian were watching their house in the Gardnerville Ranchos. Outside, a memorial had been constructed. A picture of the Miller family hung from a chain-link fence in front of the house. Flowers and candles lined the shoulder of the road. In the yard, an American flag flew at half staff. The Keenes had also placed outside a book in which mourners could write messages to the family.
"He was born to be a father, an awesome man," said Jennine Cunningham, who helped with the memorial. "He was like a big brother to my three children."
Joani Wilson came to leave flowers.
"He had such a big heart; he would do anything for you," Wilson said. "It's the community's loss: to serve your country, go to Iraq and come back only to have something like this happen to you."
Spc. Ivette Gonzalez Davila, 22, is accused of shooting and killing the couple in their home outside Fort Lewis, then kidnapping Kassidy. According to police reports, Davila returned to her barracks with the child and eventually told another soldier she had killed the parents. The soldier reported the incident to military police, who took Davila into custody.
Motive for the crime has not yet been determined. Davila will be tried in a military court.
"Her statement was that she was just jealous of the couple," said Keene. "We won't know until they prosecute her."
Keene said she and family members wouldn't let one person's actions define Kassidy's life.
"We're not going to let Davila victimize this family twice," said Keene. "I told Tami and Randy that we're not going to let her do that to us. We're going to raise this baby and tell her the good things about her parents. We're not going to get wrapped up in what this woman did to them. We're going to concentrate on the baby and raise Kassidy like Tim and Randi would want."
Keene said no one can comprehend such a cruel waste of life.
"You can't dwell on it," she said. "It will devastate your lives because you'll never get the answer of why."
Terry Krout looked at pictures of Timothy spread out on the family's kitchen counter.
"He was our class clown," she said. "I'd known him since he was 10 minutes old. Tami and I were friends in high school and moved to Carson Valley together in 1975."
Krout said Miller loved to dance, play soccer, work on cars and ride motorcycles. But most of all, he wanted to serve his country.
"I went to his graduation at boot camp," Krout said. "I paid for his mom to go, so she could see him in Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. We stood with him when they came and took him and put him on a bus to San Antonio."
Keene said the family would like to have a military-style funeral at Douglas High School, although the date and time have not yet been determined. An account has been set up at Wells Fargo in honor of the slain family. Make donations to the Timothy and Randi Miller/Gray Memorial Fund, account No. 8302684389.
n Scott Neuffer can be reached at sneuffer@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 217.
