Suffolk Reporter

Peter and Pamela Miller have pleaded guilty to charges related to a fatal fire at their rental home in Suffolk County, New York. The incident resulted in the deaths of sisters Lindsay Wiener, 19, and Jillian Wiener, 21, who were vacationing with their family.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Peter Miller, 56, pleaded guilty to two counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide. Pamela Miller, 55, pleaded guilty to Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree. Both pleas stem from the August 2022 fire at the Millers' Noyac rental property.

“First and foremost, our hearts go out to the Wiener family, who lost these young women in this tragic fire. Such a loss is unimaginable, and our community mourns with them,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We take all matters involving housing regulations very seriously, as they are crucial for public safety. If you have a rental home, you have a duty to make sure that it is safe.”

Court documents and defendants’ admissions revealed that on August 2, 2022, a Maryland couple and their three children were vacationing at the Millers' home. That evening they attempted to use an outdoor charcoal grill but resorted to cooking indoors when it malfunctioned. They went to sleep around 11:30 p.m.

At approximately 3:30 a.m., on August 3rd, the parents awoke to glass shattering and discovered a fire in the kitchen. They escaped but could not save their daughters due to intense heat conditions.

The Sag Harbor Fire Department was first on scene but could not prevent fatalities despite extensive efforts. Firefighters located Jillian and Lindsay on the second floor; both succumbed to injuries at Southampton Hospital.

Investigations revealed multiple safety violations including unpermitted construction of an outdoor kitchen made mostly of wood with improper electrical wiring which led to overloading circuits shared with indoor systems.

The Millers advertised their property on various vacation rental sites claiming it had functional smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; however inspections showed these were improperly connected or lacked battery backups.

On August 22nd Peter and Pamela Miller surrendered at Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office following charges of numerous code violations such as failing to obtain proper permits for renting out their home among others related specifically towards fire safety protocols being ignored.

They appeared before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I Horowitz where Peter pleaded guilty while Pamela accepted responsibility under different charge categories both receiving dates set next appearance November this year represented by Edward Burke Jr Esq

This case is prosecuted by Bureau Chief Timothy Gough Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty Homicide Bureau Special Investigator John Roberts conducted investigation partnership Southampton Town Fire Marshal Shane Sharkey Police Department

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