After Sandra Miles had not shown up for a few days, her coworkers became suspicious and reported her missing, leading to Sandra Miles’s murder in her own home. Sandra was well-liked and well-known in the community for her devotion, so her vicious attack was startling and upsetting. The close-knit neighborhood was bewildered because Sandra was not the kind to make enemies or incite others to hurt her. “American Monster: My Body,” which delves into the specifics of the case, reveals the actions made to capture her lover, Paul Nelson, and daughter, Tracie Miles, as the criminals. It also examines the circumstances surrounding her murder.
Who is Tracie Miles?
Raised by her single mother in Hutchinson, Kansas, Tracie Miles shared an elder brother, Chad. Sandra Miles, their mother, worked long hours in an effort to give her kids the best life possible. There were the typical tensions in every mother-daughter relationship, but nothing serious. But Tracie, who was only sixteen at the time, started dating a lad called Paul Nelson in the first few months of 1997. Sandra didn’t like the relationship, which caused the mother and daughter to argue a lot. To try to patch up their poor relationship, Sandra bought Tracie a black Ford Mustang.
It was reported that Tracie Miles fell pregnant with Paul’s child around the same time in 1997. But Tracie refused to have an abortion, and Sandra threatened to have her move out if she didn’t agree. In a strange way, this strengthened the tension in their relationship and drew Tracie and Paul closer. About a year later, on March 25, 1998, Tracie—who was by then 17—told her closest friend Candace Kienow about an intense fight she had had with her mother. Because of all the tickets Tracie had accrued, Sandra had taken away her car keys. It is said that at this time, Tracie and Paul, who is eighteen, devised a scheme to have Sandra killed.
Tracie and Paul came up with a plan on March 26: Tracie would go to school and Paul would hide in Sandra’s bedroom, ready to attack her with a wooden bear figurine. Sandra found Paul in the room before he could retract his claims of having second thoughts. Paul confronted Sandra about his presence and, infuriated by her response, whacked her on the head many times with the bear statue. Paul contacted Tracie in a panic, and when she came back, she discovered her mother was still alive. Tracie then used a radio cable to strangle her 48-year-old mother till she passed away. After that, Tracie stole the car and a VCR, covering Sandra’s head with a blanket. She also used Sandra’s account to cash a $2000 personal check.
Paul told his friend that he and Tracie were going to Mexico to get away from her mother. He also claimed to have purchased a VCR, which he later sold for $2000 to a pawn shop. Police investigations, however, showed that the $50 pawn shop transaction indeed occurred. Law enforcement was also notified by Tracie’s friend that, on March 26, when she went to pick up Tracie from school, Paul was absent, which made her believe that the two of them were planning to escape to Mexico.
By March 30, 1998, Tracie’s sister had contacted law police due to concerns prompted by her absence from work. After Sandra’s decaying body was found, the police made vain attempts to find Tracie and Paul. Friends started asking questions, which made both of them prime suspects. They were highlighted on the television program “America’s Most Wanted” and added to Kansas’ Most Wanted list. The two were seen returning from Mexico, according to reports from customs investigators, especially in El Paso, Texas. Tracie made contact with a buddy on April 8, 1998, and that night they were arrested in El Paso after the friend quickly notified the authorities.
Where is Tracie Miles Now?
Paul quickly confessed to the murder during questioning, and Tracie eventually came clean as well, despite her initial resistance. Her response, according to police officers, was “OK, I did it,” with a faint tinge of laughter in her voice. With a minimum punishment of 25 years in jail, Tracie and Paul entered a plea of not guilty on February 26, 1999, to charges of intentional first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and forgery. Tracie attempted to revoke her plea in 2013, claiming that her attorney had given false information and insufficient guidance regarding the possible punishment. She claimed compulsion by Paul when she was seventeen, citing a low IQ from a clinical evaluation.
The Kansas Supreme Court denied Tracie’s plea, ruling that the judge’s clear questions prior to striking the agreement refuted her claims of not knowing all about the plea arrangement or not having enough legal support. At the Topeka CF-Central, Tracie is now serving a MI2 custody level. She has 43 disciplinary reports to her name, the most recent one from July 2023 pertaining to a risky contraband event. Although she has been eligible for release since 2023, no information about any planned parole hearings is available to the public.
