Man Charged in Rape and Murder of 'Post-Dispatch' Editor

By: E&P Staff and The Associated Press Authorities on Sunday charged a recently paroled burglar with first-degree murder in the rape and slaying of a longtime writer and editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Brian Michael Walters, 27, was charged in the stabbing death of Nancy Miller, 59. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert P. McCulloch said authorities did not know if Miller and Walters knew one another.

Officials said Walters had been staying with his parents in the subdivision where Miller lived.

Walters also was charged with armed criminal action, first-degree burglary and rape in warrants filed Sunday. He was being held without bond in the county Justice Center in Clayton.

McCulloch said the suspect had been released from a Missouri prison about 10 days before, after serving an unspecified term for burglary.

The charges said Walters raped Miller, but McCulloch said officials do not know if that was the motive for entering her home. Officials made no mention of anything being taken.

The prosecutor said a neighbor provided information that led to Walters' arrest.

Miller, who retired from the newspaper in June, was found dead about 6 p.m. Friday, after friends and relatives became concerned at not being able to reach her.

Miller had been at the Post nearly 30 years, as a copy editor, St. Charles bureau chief, suburban editor, assistant metro editor and Lifestyle editor. Since retirement, she had been working with journalism students at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

The arrest was made by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis with help from Chesterfield police.

Excerpts from today's Post-Distpatch follow.
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"This is just tragic. We all feel horrible about it," said Arnie Robbins, editor of the Post-Dispatch. "Nancy was a dear. She was smart, a skilled editor and journalist, a great colleague, a warm and sweet and funny and caring friend. I think we all have an empty feeling today. Our hearts go out to her family and her many friends."
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Miller was known among colleagues as graceful and caring, with an easily recognizable Southern lilt.

They remember her as a patient teacher and a role model in a profession that too often breeds ego and cynicism.

"Her columns were a true window to the type of person she was," said reporter and columnist Aisha Sultan. "I aspired to be that sort of writer and person."

Beneath the politeness and demure exterior was a "newshound" with a passion for writing and the pursuit of a good story, said Bob Duffy, a Post-Dispatch editor and architecture critic who retired in 2005.

Susan Hegger, a close friend of Miller's and a former assistant managing editor of features at the Post-Dispatch, said: "She was exceptional. She was one of those Southern steel magnolias: gracious, charming and strong. And she had a wicked sense of humor."
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From a blog tribute page:

I attend Saint Louis Community College at Forest Park where Nancy was our school newspaper?s editor, so to speak. She always was smiling and you could tell her life was all about journalism. I can?t imagine how our paper?s staff is going to cope with this. We?ve lost our friend.

--Comment by John Parhomski

Nancy had a wicked sense of humor ? the zingers that would come out of her mouth were even more funny because they were said in that sweet Arkansas accent. She was always an understanding and fun editor and I enjoyed talking with her or e-mailing back and forth about stories. She was one of my favorite people at the paper. This is such a loss.

--Valerie Hahn

Nancy was a dedicated journalist who worked long hours to enrich the lives of our readers. Even after she retired she was called back to fill in, and did so with grace and diligence. I am so saddened by the news of her death. She will be missed.
-- Karen Elshout