Jury trial set for man accused of murder in Monroe County

MONROE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

A jury trial is scheduled for a man accused of killing a woman in Monroe County in 2021.

Lyle Miller, 66, of Madison, Missouri, was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. He is being held without bail in the Monroe County Jail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, February 14, at 2 p.m. The jury trial is scheduled to begin Monday, March 17, at 8 a.m.

Miller is accused of killing 88-year-old Betty Hayes in December 2021. Miller was arrested in July 2023.

Court documents from previous reports claim a witness told police officers they saw Miller driving quickly away from Madison the night of Hayes' disappearance. Her remains were eventually found in a pond.

According to court documents, Miller was angry at Hayes because she owed him money for his work.