Name: Julianne Miller
Age: 27 years old
Last Seen: September 22, 1982
Location: Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Status: Still missing
Case Information
27 year old Julianne Miller was last seen at her residence in Old Saybrook, Connecticut on September 22, 1982. She disappeared following an argument with her live in boyfriend.
Background
Julianne Miller was born on July 18, 1955. She graduated from Valley Regional High School in Deep River in 1973, and from Connecticut College in New London.
She was married for a short time but divorced. Following her divorce, her father bought her a cottage at 27 Clinton Avenue in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Julianne was a graduate student at the University of Hartford and worked part time at a day care center at the time of her disappearance.
James Clayton, who she met at a roller rink in 1981, was her live in boyfriend. Shortly after he moved in she deeded half the property to him.
By September of 1982 their relationship had began to sour. On September 20, 1982, Julianne picked up a quit claim deed with hopes of getting James Clayton’s name off of her property.
Disappearance
Around 10:00 pm on September 21, 1982, Julianne was last seen at her home in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
She was last seen by a tenant, sitting on the couch in the living room watching television with her live-in boyfriend, James Clayton.
The couple reportedly got into an argument about the property, with the witness saying tensions were high.
Julianne hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
Clayton never reported Julianna missing. Her parents, who are now deceased, reported her missing to the Old Saybrook Police Department on September 29, 1982.
Investigation
Julianne left her car, glasses, purse, and Golden Retriever Bo-Jo behind at home. The quit claim deed Julianne had gotten on September 20 was found inside her purse, not signed by Clayton.
Shortly into the investigation authorities began focusing on Julianne’s boyfriend, James Clayton, as a suspect.
Clayton told police he saw Julianne leave the morning of September 22 in a brown pickup truck driven by a black man. He also told investigator’s he didn’t report her missing because he believed it would jeopardize his chances of getting a job with state police.
A witness told authorities that furniture in Julianne’s cottage had been rearranged after her disappearance, with some couch cushions missing. Clayton told the witness that the cushions had been sent to the dry cleaner’s.
State police major crime squad searched the house for evidence and seized a rug, the couch (with missing cushions), as well as a few other personal items, which still are in police possession.
Blood was found on the couch, which Clayton said was from Julianne’s dog.
Several white spots were found on the living room carpet, suggesting it may have been cleaned with bleach.
Clayton had two tenants move out of the home a few weeks after Julianne disappeared. They were given polygraph tests regarding her disappearance and passed, however Clayton refused to take one.
Shortly after her disappearance, Julianne’s family reported her grandmother’s ring missing, as well as some other jewelry. The ring was discovered at a pawn shop in New Haven, Connecticut several months later, reportedly sold by Clayton’s brother.
Authorities, as well as Julianna’s friends and family, believe Clayton murdered Julianne, though her body has never been found.
They believe he buried her body somewhere on the 70 acre property which extends near the Deep River and borders the Cockaponset State Forest in Connecticut.
In 2000, the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office Cold Case Squad offered their help to local police in Julianne’s case. Their aim was to use advances in forensic technology and a fresh look at the case to drum up new leads.
The cold case team also conducted a massive search with the help of state police dogs in the Deep River woods near the property where Julianne lived, but no clues as to her whereabouts were found.
In 2002, James Clayton was convicted in military court of attempted murder after fracturing a military officer’s skull with a hammer during a robbery attempt. He was sentenced to five years in prison at the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Clayton told investigators he “blacked out” and doesn’t remember hitting his friend with the hammer.
After his conviction, investigators began looking into Julianne’s case again by re-interviewing witnesses and re-testing the blood found on the couch.
Clayton is the only suspect police have named in Julianne’s disappearance, though the absence of a body have kept authorities from requesting an arrest warrant for him.
Whereabouts
The location of Julianne Miller, as well as the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, remains unknown. She is presumed dead, but her body has not been found.
James Clayton remains the main suspect in Julianne’s disappearance, though no arrest has ever been made.
Appearance
White female born on July 18, 1955. Julianne has blonde hair, (possibly) blue eyes, stands 5’6 tall, and weighs 110 pounds.
Clothing & Accessories:
It is unknown what she was wearing when she disappeared.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Julianne Miller please contact the Old Saybrook Police Department at (860) 395-3140, or the Cold Case Unit Tip Line (866) 623-8058.
The State of Connecticut is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Miller’s case.
Resources & Further Information
Juliann Miller – NamUs
Juliann Miller – The Charley Project
Media Links
Investigation Renewed Into 1982 Disappearance – The Middletown Press
Conviction Prompts New Look at Old Case – Hartford Courant
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