Dr. Barrie Miller, North Dakota’s state forensic examiner, was fired earlier this month in a situation that resulted in police being called to her office in Bismarck. The police reports indicated that an employee of Miller’s office said she was about to be fired and was behaving in a concerning manner, making homicidal comments. The police were also informed that Miller had made previous comments about committing murder/suicide and running over employees. As a result, a welfare check was requested for Miller and her son.
On April 10th, officers from the North Dakota Highway Patrol and Bismarck police responded to Miller’s office in Bismarck to address the situation. Despite the concerning behavior described in the reports, the police stated that Miller appeared calm but confused about the events unfolding. After a conversation with a state human resources representative and a state health official, Miller was officially fired from her position. She and her son left the office without any further incident, and Miller was not arrested during the encounter.
There were no claims of any threats or actual violence made by Dr. Miller towards her office staff. However, the staff expressed concerns about Miller’s mental health and safety, prompting the police intervention. The reports indicated that Miller handled the termination well, but still seemed confused about the situation. Despite the concerns raised by the staff, Miller’s case was not sent to the Burleigh County state’s attorney for review, and she did not face any legal consequences as a result of the incident.
Following Miller’s termination, former state forensic examiner Dr. William Massello will be handling interim duties while a search process unfolds for her replacement. Miller did not respond to any attempts at contact following the incident. The situation raised questions about Miller’s mental health and behavior, leading to her termination. The safety and well-being of both Miller and her son were of paramount concern during the incident, and steps were taken to ensure their welfare and address any potential risks that had been raised.
