Dead Man Walking?

Credit: The Independent

In 1986, Ohio native Donald Miller fell off the grid. After the devastating loss of his job, it appears that Miller decided to quit his quotidian life in the town of Findlay – even if that meant leaving behind his wife, Robin, and their two children. He claims to have spent time in the South, residing in states like Florida and Georgia incognito.

“After the devastating loss of his job, it appears that Miller decided to quit his quotidian life in the town of Findlay – even if that meant leaving behind his wife, Robin, and their two children.”

By the time Miller was declared legally deceased in 1994, his wife had finally gained some assistance in raising their two children from various Social Security death benefits. Indeed, when Miller disappeared he left behind a staggering amount of debt; by 1994 his child support payments were more than $25,000. As long as Miller remains deceased in the eyes of the law, there’s no need for his wife to return any of the money given to her by the government.

“By the time Miller was declared legally deceased in 1994, his wife had finally gained some assistance in raising their two children from various Social Security death benefits.”

It’s unclear, says the BBC, if Robin Miller could have benefited from Social Security even if her husband was not declared dead.

The Findlay, Ohio courthouse. Credit: panaramio.com

“It kind of went further than I ever expected it to,” says Miller, “I just kind of took off, ended up in different places.” After returning to family and friends (and his now ex-wife) in 2005, a judge informed him that he simply can’t overturn a death ruling that has been in place for over three years. Currently, Miller has a month to appeal to the court’s ruling. Until then, Mr. Miller remains will continue to live as a paradox in the eyes of the government – a dead man walking.

It’s truly a surreal story, the life trajectory of Donald Miller. He is man whose life choice to go “off the grid” rendered him deceased in the eyes of his government, even after he decided to make his identity known again.
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