Joseph Miller, who murdered four women during the late 1980s and early 1990s...

Joseph Miller, who murdered four women during the late 1980s and early 1990s, is mentally retarded and cannot be executed, Dauphin County Judge Jeannine Turgeon. Turgeon, who was the judge during Miller's 1993 murder trial, vacated the 2 death sentences he received for the slayings of Selina Franklin and Stephanie McDuffey, who were killed during the late 1980s. Turgeon acted on December 18 2002 (see) without conducting a hearing, citing the Supreme Court decision. The district attorney's office appealed to the state Supreme Court, saying a hearing should be held to determine Miller's mental status. The court agreed and ordered Turgeon to hold evidentiary hearings. Hearings were held July 30-31 and Aug. 17. Miller confessed to raping and bludgeoning the women, and on March 25, 1993, he was sentenced to death for each slaying. He also confessed to killing Jeanette Thomas and Kathi Novena Shenck. Fot these other two killings, he has life sentences.