New Hampshire Cold Case: Investigating the Unsolved Murder of Roberta "Bobbie" Miller
On October 31st, 2010, 54-year-old Roberta "Bobbie" Miller and her dog "Sport" were murdered in her Gilford, New Hampshire home. Fifteen years later, her family is still seeking justice
Background
This Halloween marks the fifteenth anniversary of one of New Hampshire’s most mysterious cold cases. On Sunday, October 31, 2010, 54-year-old Roberta “Bobbie” Miller and her dog, Sport, were shot to death by an unknown assailant inside her Gilford, New Hampshire home. A decade and a half later, her family and friends continue to search for justice.
Bobbie Miller
Roberta Dionne, born September 25, 1956, in Manchester, New Hampshire, was known to her family as “Bobbie”, a fun-loving, tough, slightly rebellious, steadfast, and generous eldest daughter in a family of eight. To her siblings, she was the older sister who was up for any challenge, and also their father’s favorite. For most of her early life, the family lived on a farm in Bedford, New Hampshire.
In the late 1970s, Bobbie met Gary Miller while working as a waitress in Manchester. Miller was an auto mechanic who also worked nights as a bouncer. The two began dating and were married in 1981.
Gary, an ambitious self-starter, dreamed of becoming his own boss, while Bobbie was ready to support him in whatever venture he began. Gary went on to open two successful car dealerships in New Hampshire and Maine, as well as a tire shop in Tamworth, New Hampshire.
Their first child, Jennifer, was born in 1984, followed by their son, Jonathan, in 1987. They lived in the quiet town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The home was located on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, and Bobbie and her family enjoyed outdoor activities like kayaking, camping, and hiking. She also enjoyed crafting and creating stained glass art. In addition to her hobbies, Bobbie was deeply involved in her children’s lives.
Divorce and Move to Gilford
As Jennifer and Jonathan grew older and left home, Bobbie and Gary grew increasingly apart. In 2007, the couple filed for divorce. When Bobbie and Gary separated, the divorce proceedings, which dragged on for several years, were described as messy, bitter, and full of financial complications.
Their divorce was finalized in August 2010, after 26 years of marriage and a grueling three years of legal battles and lingering resentment. The house in Wolfeboro was put up for sale, and Bobbie purchased a modest home in the town of Gilford.
On September 25, 2010, she celebrated her 54th birthday and invited several friends over to her new home. Though her divorce had been contentious, Bobbie was taking steps towards beginning a new chapter in her life.
She began dating again and recently got a rescue dog, a yellow lab named Sport, that she would often take on hikes. She also enrolled in business classes at Granite State College.
Unsolved Murder
On the weekend that she died, Bobbie had spoken with several people. She had a date on Friday night. The following day, Saturday, October 30, she spent time with a friend she had met while taking classes. She also talked to her mother and both of her children on the phone that weekend.
Bobbi was reportedly in good spirits and was excited about building flower boxes to hang under her outside windows. She was also planning to turn her garage into a studio for her stained glass projects.
On Sunday, she went to Lowe’s to pick up some items she needed for her home projects. The store was just five miles from her home, and she arrived about 5 p.m. After making her purchases, Bobbie returned home.
On November 1st, shortly after 4:00 p.m., Gilford police received a 911 call. Bobbie’s son, Jonathan, said that he had found his mom and her dog dead. He had just arrived at his mother’s home and found the bodies in the kitchen.
By 4:30 p.m., police were on the scene, and soon the road was being closed off. By 6 p.m., the New Hampshire State Police Major Crimes Unit was processing the scene. It was soon learned that Bobbie and her dog Sport had been killed with a shotgun, each having been shot twice.
Jonathan told police that he tried calling his mom earlier that day, and when she never picked up, he drove over to her house to see her. Jonathan’s sister, Jennifer, who was in California at the time, was notified. Sadly, however, the rest of Bobbie’s family, including her mother, did not find out until the following day when the story was on the news.
Investigation
From the available information, investigators placed the time of the murder between 6:00 p.m. on Sunday and 4:00 pm. on Monday, November 1st, when she was found by her son, Jonathan. One clue that was learned was that Bobbie had an assignment for one of her classes due on Sunday, which was never submitted. This pointed towards the likelihood that she was killed on Sunday night.
At her home, there were no signs of forced entry, and approximately $35,000 in cash and checks were left untouched, ruling out burglary as a motive. Bobbie was found fully clothed, and there was no evidence of any attempted sexual assault. The question was: who wanted Bobbie Miller dead?
Naturally, authorities began looking at those who were closest to Bobbie, starting with her ex-husband, Gary Miller. They learned that two days before the murder, the family cabin, which Gary now owned in Acton, Maine, had mysteriously caught fire, which the police later confirmed was arson.
They also learned that Gary’s son, Jonathan, had filed a restraining order against him, which had expired in 2008. Gary cooperated fully with the investigation. He provided an alibi - he was with his new wife at the time - and voluntarily submitted to a polygraph test. The police were satisfied with the results, and Miller was no longer considered a suspect.
Bobbie’s brother, Ken, who has worked tirelessly to seek justice for his sister, also believes that Gary Miller is innocent, saying that he has worked alongside him and the police to find Bobbie’s killer.
In a strange turn of events, Bobbie’s son Jonathan also became a suspect. Though he had a decent childhood, Jonathan had a volatile nature. He was unpredictable, stole from friends and family often, and allegedly broke into Bobbie’s work building and had a lengthy criminal record.
Suspicion only grew when Ken noticed that some of the reward posters for information about Bobbie’s death were being torn down. So Ken put up some posters on Jonathan’s road and set up a camera. The camera captured Jonathan taking down the posters as well as setting up a large plywood sign that read “F**k You Kenny.” It also captured Jonathan smashing the camera with a rock.
This led Ken to ask the logical question: “If someone were putting up reward posters to find out who killed your mother, why would you be taking those posters down?” The reason for Jonathan’s behavior is still unknown, and there was no evidence that he was the killer.
Pursuing Justice
Ken Dionne continues to seek justice for his sister Bobbie. He has called out the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office for its lack of transparency and refusal to discuss the case with Bobbie’s family. Despite his frustrations, Ken continues to advocate for justice for his family.
Sources:
“The Murder of Roberta ‘Bobbie’ Miller.” Murder She Told, 30 January 2025, https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/bobbie-miller?
“The Murder of Roberta “Bobbie” Miller (New Hampshire)” Dark Downeast, https://darkdowneast.com/robertabobbiemiller/
“Gilford woman, dog fatally shot on Halloween 14 years ago; tips sought in case.” WMUR9, 1 November 2024, https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-roberta-bobbie-miller-killing/62784237
Tracy, Paula. “Family Wants Justice in 2010 Murder of Roberta Miller in Gilford.” In Depth NH, 27 February 2024, https://indepthnh.org/2024/02/27/family-wants-justice-in-2010-murder-of-roberta-miller-in-wolfeboro/
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