Terrance and Marie Duffy with their son Patrick
On November 18, 1986, Duffy’s parents, Terrance and Marie Duffy, were murdered by Kenneth Miller and Sean Wentz during the robbery of a Montana bar owned by Duffy’s parents. Wentz and Miller, who were teenagers at the time, were convicted of the murders and sentenced to 180 years in prison.
On November 18, 1986, Miller and Sean Wentz went hunting after completing work for the same janitorial service. They were drinking. After failing to drop a deer that Miller shot at, they returned to Helena. Wentz picked up his 12-gauge shotgun and they purchased more beer.
From Kenneth Miller’s appeal: Miller and Wentz then proceeded south from Helena. After hunting near Clancy for awhile, they went to Tings bar, in Jefferson City, and consumed more alcohol. Miller suggested they go to Boulder Hot Springs. The two departed at approximately 8:45 p.m. and arrived in Boulder at the Lounge bar. During this portion of the trip, Wentz fired his shotgun four or five times out the window of Miller’s white 1968 Volkswagen.
Once at the Lounge, Miller and Wentz drank tequila and received instructions to the hot springs from Terrance Duffy, the owner and bartender. They headed south but could not find the resort. Wentz testified that they agreed to a robbery plan about eleven miles south of Boulder and turned off the highway onto a lane that led to the Wortman family residence. Miller claimed he turned off to urinate. He stated that the door to the car was open and he was unaware of what Wentz was doing due to loud rock music from the car stereo. Wentz, with a shotgun, was observed by Bill Wortman, who opened the door to the trailer house when he heard dogs barking. Wortman, [231 Mont. 502] a 14 year-old-boy, testified that he was frightened and slammed the door when Wentz pointed the gun at him.
Wentz testified that he and Miller were at the trailer and Wentz had the shotgun. Marilyn Wortman testified to hearing a car start and seeing lights. She and another son, Shannon, both saw taillights. Marilyn called the police. Shannon Wortman also testified to finding a shotgun shell in the yard the next morning. The shell was taken by Mrs. Wortman to the Sheriff’s Office and identified later at trial by experts as being ejected from Wentz’s shotgun.
Deputy D.D. Craft responded to Wortman’s call at 9:10 p.m. At approximately 9:15 to 9:20 p.m. he saw a white Volkswagen heading toward Boulder and radioed Chief of Police Dennis Sullivan. Sullivan testified to observing a white Volkswagen at the Lounge at approximately 9:20 p.m.
Wentz and Miller testified that they drove back to the Lounge in Boulder. Wentz claimed they returned for the purpose of robbing the bar. Wentz testified he brought the shotgun in to frighten the victims and that Miller entered the bar in front of him. He said Duffy came from around the bar and a struggle ensued. Wentz said Miller encouraged him to shoot Duffy. During the struggle, according to Wentz’s first statement, the shotgun discharged. The County Attorney, John Conner, challenged Wentz as to conflicting previous statements and physical evidence. Wentz recanted this statement and testified that Miller grabbed the gun and shot Duffy. He said Miller handed the gun back to him and began picking up the spent shotgun shell when Marie Duffy entered the bar. According to Wentz, as Mrs. Duffy came into the bar, Miller reached around him and pulled the trigger while Wentz held the gun.
Miller claimed they returned to the Lounge for further directions to Boulder Hot Springs. He stated that as he and Wentz sat drinking at the bar, Wentz and Duffy began to argue. Wentz left the bar and returned with the shotgun. Upon seeing the gun, Duffy struggled with Wentz and the gun fired. Miller said he went to the side of the bar next to a beam and did not see the actual shooting of Duffy because he was on his knees facing the wall.
After the shooting, Miller stated Wentz ordered him to retrieve the casing and threatened to shoot Miller if he did not comply. Miller claimed Mrs. Duffy then entered the rear of the bar and Wentz shot her. Miller claimed Wentz forced him to grab money from the cash register and some liquor bottles. Miller gave the cash to Wentz. The two returned to the Volkswagen and proceeded to Helena. Miller [231 Mont. 503] said Wentz claimed he killed 32 people in California, had made it 34 and could make it 35.
The local Boulder authorities were notified of the homicides at approximately 10:00 p.m. The Helena authorities were notified by an all points bulletin. Upon returning to Helena, Miller and Wentz proceeded to steal a Jeep and pickup at a local car dealership. They then drove the stolen vehicles to the residence of Tammy Harding, Wentz’s fiancee. She testified that Wentz and Miller entered the apartment and Wentz told her two people were down in Boulder and Miller had shot them. At trial, inconsistent testimony was presented that Wentz told Harding he had shot the Duffys after Mr. Duffy and he had argued.
Wentz grabbed clothes and additional ammunition from the apartment. He and Miller then drove to a local car wash, left the Jeep and returned to the automobile dealership to retrieve Miller’s Volkswagen. Chester Richey, a fellow employee of Wentz and Miller for the janitorial service, testified Wentz was brandishing the shotgun when he returned to the dealership. Wentz told Richey not to call the police. Richey stated Miller did what Wentz told him.
After Wentz and Miller left Tammy Harding’s residence the first time, she telephoned her father and he had his wife notify the Helena police to dispatch an officer to Tammy Harding’s residence. Mr. Harding went to Tammy Harding’s residence and testified to seeing the two vehicles return with “the black Chevy pickup coming first into the driveway.” With Miller driving the Volkswagen and Wentz driving the pickup, the two did return to the circular driveway next to Harding’s apartment but did not leave their vehicles. Miller claimed he drove to Harding’s residence hoping the police would stop them on the street. Miller and Wentz sped away from the complex when they saw Helena Police Officer Brad Hampton through Tammy Harding’s windows. The two individuals fled with Hampton in pursuit ultimately returning to the car wash.
Hampton testified that he stopped Wentz and told him to get on the ground face down. As Wentz did so, he threw some money and stated that Miller had done the shooting. Miller at this time did not stop but instead drove over a rocky embankment and onto the road heading away from the car wash. Miller was stopped shortly thereafter by officer Frank Melton who ordered Miller to go “down into a prone position on the ground” at which time keys to the stolen Jeep fell out of his pocket. These keys were found underneath Miller but [231 Mont. 504] he stated they were not his. Miller denied any knowledge as to why he was stopped.
Wentz, after being read his Miranda rights, made several statements to the arresting officers and officers at the Lewis and Clark County Jail to the effect that Miller had done the shootings. Wentz also gave a recorded statement to Jefferson County authorities. Miller denied that he was ever in Boulder but was too intoxicated to make any other statements.
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State of Montana v Kenneth Miller 1988 [conviction and sentence affirmed]
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Investigative Reports: Parole: The Pros and Cons of Early Release
Defendants
Kenneth Albert Miller – convicted, sentenced to 180 years in prison, released in 2007
Sean Wentz – convicted, sentenced to 180 years in prison, released 2015
INMATE INFORMATION
DOC ID# A025259
NAME: KENNETH ALBERT MILLER
CURRENT STATUS: PAROLE
STATUS LAST UPDATED: 05-DEC-07
GENDER: MALE
SUPERVISING OFFICE:
Billings Probation and Parole
2615 4th Ave. South
Billings, Montana 59107
For More Information: (406)896-5400
PHYSICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AKAs
DOB: 10-AUG-67 HEIGHT: 5 FT 8 IN
BIRTHPLACE: ANACONDA, MT. WEIGHT: 155 LBS
ETHNICITY: WHITE L/R HANDED: R
MARITAL STATUS: SINGLE HAIR COLOR: BROWN
DEPENDENTS: 0 BUILD: MEDIUM
CITIZENSHIP: UNITED STATES SKIN TONE: LIGHT
MT RESIDENT: Y EYE COLOR: BLUE
KEN MILLER, KENNY MILLER,
SCARS, MARKS, TATTOOS AND OTHER PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
NCIC Code TYPE DESCRIPTION
SC L ANKL SCARS – ANKLE, LEFT
SC L EYE SCARS – EYEBROW, LEFT/LEFT EYE AREA
SC R ANKL SCARS – ANKLE, RIGHT
TAT L SHLD TATTOOS – SHOULDER, LEFT JOKER
TAT R SHLD TATTOOS – SHOULDER, RIGHT “KEN”
LEGAL RECORD
DOCKET: 1190-B OFFENSE: DELIBERATE HOMICIDE
COUNTY: JEFFERSON CODE: 455102
JUDGE: DAVIS OFFENSE DATE: 18-NOV-86
COUNTS: 2 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 15-APR-87
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 15-APR-87
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 900
DOCKET: 1190-B OFFENSE: ROBBERY
COUNTY: JEFFERSON CODE: 455401
JUDGE: DAVIS OFFENSE DATE: 18-NOV-86
COUNTS: 1 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 15-APR-87
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 15-APR-87
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 240
DOCKET: 1190-B OFFENSE: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
COUNTY: JEFFERSON CODE: 455202
JUDGE: DAVIS OFFENSE DATE: 18-NOV-86
COUNTS: 1 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 15-APR-87
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 15-APR-87
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 120
INMATE INFORMATION
DOC ID# A025438
NAME: SEAN ANTHONY WENTZ
CURRENT STATUS: INMATE
STATUS LAST UPDATED: 28-JUL-07
GENDER: MALE
PRISON:
Montana State Prison
500 Conley Lake Road
Deer Lodge, Montana 59722
For More Information: (406)846-1320
PHYSICAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS AKAs
DOB: 04-OCT-67 HEIGHT: 6 FT 2 IN
BIRTHPLACE: VALLEJO, CA. WEIGHT: 175 LBS
ETHNICITY: WHITE L/R HANDED: R
MARITAL STATUS: SINGLE HAIR COLOR: BLACK
DEPENDENTS: 1 BUILD: MEDIUM
CITIZENSHIP: UNITED STATES SKIN TONE: LIGHT
MT RESIDENT: Y EYE COLOR: HAZEL
* * * NONE * * *
SCARS, MARKS, TATTOOS AND OTHER PHYSICAL CONDITIONS
NCIC Code TYPE DESCRIPTION
TAT CHEST TATTOOS – CHEST L SIDE “WASTED YOUTH”
TAT L HND TATTOOS – HAND, LEFT LIGHTNING BOLT & CROSS
TAT R WRS TATTOOS – WRIST, RIGHT “A” CIRCLED
TAT UL ARM TATTOOS – ARM, LEFT UPPER CLOUD & LIGHTNING BOLT, CROSS & “SNUGGLES”
LEGAL RECORD
DOCKET: DC-92-34 OFFENSE: PERJURY
COUNTY: POWELL CODE: 457201
JUDGE: MIZNER OFFENSE DATE: 12-MAR-87
COUNTS: 1 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 30-APR-92
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 30-APR-92
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 120
DOCKET: 1190-A OFFENSE: AGGRAVATED ASSAULT
COUNTY: JEFFERSON CODE: 455202
JUDGE: DAVIS OFFENSE DATE: 18-NOV-86
COUNTS: 1 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 29-MAY-87
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 29-MAY-87
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 120
DOCKET: 1190-A OFFENSE: COMMITTED W/DANGEROUS WEAPON
COUNTY: JEFFERSON CODE: 4618221
JUDGE: DAVIS OFFENSE DATE: 18-NOV-86
COUNTS: 1 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 29-MAY-87
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 29-MAY-87
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 120
DOCKET: 1190-A OFFENSE: DELIBERATE HOMICIDE
COUNTY: JEFFERSON CODE: 455102
JUDGE: DAVIS OFFENSE DATE: 18-NOV-86
COUNTS: 2 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 29-MAY-87
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 29-MAY-87
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 900
DOCKET: 1190-A OFFENSE: ROBBERY
COUNTY: JEFFERSON CODE: 455401
JUDGE: DAVIS OFFENSE DATE: 18-NOV-86
COUNTS: 1 SENTENCE PRONOUNCED: 29-MAY-87
LEGAL TYPE: ORIGINAL SENTENCE SENTENCE EFFECTIVE: 29-MAY-87
SENTENCE TYPE: PRISON NET SENTENCE (MONTHS): 240
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Filed under: crime, Deadly Duo, murder, murder in the 20th Century | Tagged: 1986, Deadly Duo, homicide, Marie Duffy, Montana, parole, robbery, shooting, Terrance Duffy | 45 Comments »
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Bonnie's Blog of Crime 
