Rep. Gary Miller's ( R- CA ) daughters dies @ 33

Source: Pasadena Star News

Rep. Gary Miller's 33-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, died unexpectedly early Saturday morning, the Brea Republican's office said Sunday.

"Elizabeth was full of life - a vibrant and beautiful young woman who embraced everyone she knew," Miller said. "She was the love of my life and will always be missed. She is in a better place and at peace in God's arms."

Her death follows the abduction last week of three of the congressman's grandsons.

The boys disappeared Nov. 18 after their mother, Jennifer DeJongh, lost sole custody of the boys to Rep. Miller and his wife, Cathy. The boys were the sons of Rep. Miller's son Brian.



Read more: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_7557975

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I don't much like this guys politics, but he's had a rough go the past month, and, as a father,my heart goes out to him.

How horrifying...

To have a child die, at any age, is just the worst...

My deepest condolences to him, and to his entire family, on these terrible losses...

:grouphug:

My sympathies as well to he and his family. And I hope they find the grandchildren soon.

WTF is going on in that family? Why did custody of the sons go to the grandparents and not the father if the mother was unfit?

And why would a man with a wife and three other children call his daughter "the love of my life"?

As a nurse who has dealt with families who are in extreme grief, I can tell you they often say things that look odd to the rest of us...

I think that is what is going on here with that last quote.

"DeJongh's argument for sole custody includes Brian Miller's 2000 guilty plea to charges of spousal and child abuse. He was ordered to serve four years probation and perform 224 hours of community service, according to Orange County Superior Court documents." <http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_7519132>

Where did Brian learn to be abusive?

What isn't mentioned in the OP article referencing the abduction is that the mother had picked up passports for her sons a few weeks earlier before she and her husband fled with the boys rather than turn them over to the Millers.

Now they're waiting for a toxicology report on the daughter?

Interesting cluster of events.

it happens in all families, at one time or another.

Fact is, neither parent was responsible enough to be trusted with the children, the grandparents stepped in, daughter/aunt got involved. Why can't the GOP get that sometimes it DOES TAKE A VILLAGE?? Especially, when there are not well-connected, economically well-to-do, grandparents (or others) to step in?

Enter courts, rulings, that upset the mother enough to take extreme action resulting in the daughter/aunt becoming extremely concerned/distraught. Result for the unstable/scared = suicide.

Very sad -- all around. But, only honesty and being upfront about it will honor the pain EVERYONE, in their family must have felt as all this unfolded.

As I said, Miller is not one of my favorite people, but people under extreme duress tend to say things that don't make sense to others. I'm going to attribute his statement to that of a grief stricken, loving father.
As to why he and his wife got custody, the son has problems. The courts felt the grandparents offer the best situation for the children. The court records are private, but I'm sure the judge acted in the kids best interest, and that's what we all want. Right ?

Miller is charging that the mother's dad mortgaged his house to help her flee. That's a big sacrifice for an unfit parent.

about Miller, and you seem to share my opinion that he's a piece of shit. BUT. At some point, all that stuff ends when your children pass before your eyes.

It's not supposed to be like that.

My 33 year old daughter is sitting across from me as I type this. Forgive me if I try to show some humanity.

rather them let them visit Grandpa for three months. When I get a good answer to that, I'll summon fellow feeling. But right now, I see GRANDFATHER getting TEMPORARY CUSTODY of three boys. Not the father, the grandfather. The father, a sentenced abuser, isn't talking.

While all this is happening, the only daughter dies...without having been known to be ill, without falling downstairs or having any other kind of accident. And cause of death is waiting on toxicology?

My humanity is smelling a rat, not a parent.

Can we call it what it is? The issue wasn't that the son "has problems." It's that he was abusive. His victims were the woman who fled, and her children. While it wasn't in accordance with the court's decision and obviously broke the law, I can understand fleeing rather than turning over her three children to the people who raised the guy who was abusing them and her.

elected to the city council in Diamond Bar. My personal feelings aside, what a tragic and heartbreaking month it has been for Gary Miller. My sincere condolences to the Miller Family.

"Lopez said the three children are students at Maple Hill Elementary School in Diamond Bar. Lopez produced court documents that seemed to indicate the congressman and his wife were awarded a 90-day visitation with the children that was set to begin on Sunday and last through February.

Previously, De Jong, had sole custody of the children, and the congressman's son was allowed supervised visitation, Lopez said.

Lopez also said that Brian Miller had been convicted in 2000 in a domestic abuse case involving Jennifer De Jong."

The above is from Lexis Nexis but I'm scared to post such a long link.

I've been googling and I still haven't read one word of a reason to remove the mother from sole custody.

I'll withhold condolences until I hear a little more about Grandpa's role in all this. Because I'll bet she knew something but had no evidence to prove it.

I can't speculate on what it is, but I still feel bad for their family.

If you think the link is too long, try using the site www.tinyurl.com to shorten it.

No mention of cause of death?

And no two stories have the custody dispute the same. Or even the mother's name. Or her marital history.

NO reason is given to deprive her of custody even temporarily. No explanation why the grandparents are getting the boys and not the father, if the father is so nice and reformed. No comment from the father of the boys.

But an Amber alert was specifically NOT issued and nobody thinks the boys are in danger from their mother. Why is that?

So I ask again, what's up with Grandpa?

Much as I hate to speculate.... I'm going to go ahead & speculate. Why are the grandparents suddenly getting 90-day temporary custody? It seems like the father's been out of the picture for awhile, w/the mother raising the kids w/her new husband - then the fraternal grandparents get custody? Why? I can't imagine many scenarios that would justify that kind of sudden custodial change. Then she flees, w/the children, whereabouts unknown - and a week later this happens. I'm not going to say what's up with Grandpa, because we don't know exactly what's going on with this family. But something's up, IMO. The two incidents seem to be related.

I would hate to have to take on a Republican in court these days. The whole court system set up by the Repukes the last few years would make Hitler blush. It's really sad that he lost his daughter though.

Yes, it seems there are some problems with Brian Miller (Elizabeth's brother, Gary's son) but for today can't we have just a tad bit empathy that a man has lost his child.

Because the timing is ODD. Because a mother just uprooted her children (with the support of her parents who mortgaged their home for getaway money)to prevent a long overnight visit with Grandpa. And I want to know about that before I feel the tiniest sympathy for Grandpa.

I want to know what Mrs. DeJong knows about Gary Miller that she can't prove in court.