On June 18, 2024, the Lamar County Sheriff's Office received reports of a white male impersonating a public servant, specifically representing himself as a Child Protective Services (CPS) worker. The suspect gained access to a child by convincing their guardian of his authority. Both the victim's guardians and the child provided detailed descriptions of the suspect and his vehicle.
Further investigation revealed similarities to a previous incident in Sulphur Springs, Texas, in November 2023, involving a suspect matching the description from Lamar County. On June 25, 2024, detectives positively identified the suspect as 56-year-old Gerald Don Miller from Franklin County.
An arrest warrant was issued for Miller, leading to a search of his home and vehicle in Franklin County. Miller was taken into custody without incident. Detectives recovered items from Miller's vehicle that corroborated the victim's account in Lamar County, as well as evidence linking him to the Sulphur Springs offense.
Authorities emphasized that Miller targeted victims in the custody of grandparents and did not possess legitimate CPS credentials. They urged the public to verify credentials before engaging with individuals claiming to be CPS workers.
The Lamar County Sheriff's Office acknowledged the collaborative efforts of detectives, CPS, Sulphur Springs Police Department, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and Hopkins County Sheriff's Office in resolving the case.
Law enforcement agencies encouraged anyone with relevant information or similar encounters with Miller to contact their local authorities. Miller is described as 5'08", approximately 240 pounds, with brown and white hair, a white mustache, and possibly carrying a red case with a Texas Department of Criminal Justice logo.
