Miller

The search for Joshua Allen Miller, a suspect in the death of Johnny Wayne James, ended Monday morning with Miller in custody.

Clarke County Sheriff Todd Kemp said the Laurel Police Department arrested Miller at the Laurel Ramada Inn around 6:30 a.m. Monday, approximately 48 hours after the death of James.

Police identified Miller, born in 1992, on Saturday as a suspect in Wayne’s death Saturday morning in Stonewall. 

The Stonewall Police Department responded to a 911 call about a man who had jumped or was pushed out of a vehicle traveling on Highland Avenue in Stonewall around 7 a.m. Saturday, according to Kemp. 

Stonewall Police Chief Michael Street interviewed the man who said Miller had shot James, 41, of Lauderdale County, point blank from the backseat of a 2007 Nissan Pathfinder, Kemp said.

Police received a second call about 1/4 mile from the scene where James’ body had been dumped on County Road 350, also in Stonewall. 

“Chief Street found (James) face down on the double yellow line,” Kemp said. “(Emergency Medical Services) said it appeared he had died from a gunshot wound and he was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Kemp said the witness stated there were only three men in the vehicle, including himself, Miller and James. 

On Saturday, Miller was spotted around 10:30 p.m. in Jones County near the Magnolia Motor Lodge, at the intersection of I-59 and Highway 11 near Laurel.

Kemp said Sunday deputies discovered Miller’s vehicle, the 2007 Nissan Pathfinder, in a wooded area off of the interstate and believed Miller was on foot.

By Monday afternoon, Miller had been transferred to the Clarke County Detention Facility. Kemp said investigators were searching the vehicle and would interview Miller sometime Monday.

Miller faces a capital murder charge. Bond has not yet been set.