On March 10, 1999 in Gonzales, Louisiana, 53-year-old Mildred Vessel was shot and killed in her van as she returned home. Miller Sr., carried out the killing.

After that shooting, Miller went to New St. John Fellowship Baptist Church where his estranged wife, 25-year-old Carla Vessel Miller, and their 2-year-old son, Shon Jr., were attending Wednesday night Bible study. Miller entered the sanctuary and opened fire, killing Carla, the child, and church deacon Vaniaro Jackson; four other people were wounded. Miller was found the same day hiding in a shed and was taken into custody after being wounded by police.

Miller was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and was convicted in 2000; a death sentence was imposed. The conviction and sentence were later reversed by the Louisiana Supreme Court in 2007 on grounds that the trial court had denied Miller the right to plead not guilty by reason of insanity. In 2008 Miller pleaded guilty to the four murders and was sentenced to life without parole as part of a plea agreement to avoid another death penalty trial.

If anyone knew Mildred Vessel or has information about her killing, please share what can help the record and the families affected.