Suspect in 1988 killing of Fort Wayne girl, 8, appears in court

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A judge has given prosecutors until Thursday to formally charge a man who is being held in the 1988 slaying of an 8-year-old Fort Wayne girl.

John D. Miller, 59, of Grabill was arrested Sunday on preliminary murder, child molesting and criminal confinement charges in the abduction, rape and killing of April Marie Tinsley. The Fort Wayne girl’s body was found three days after her April 1988 abduction in a ditch about 20 miles away.

Court documents say Miller’s DNA matches DNA recovered from Tinsley’s underwear.

WANE-TV reports Miller appeared Monday morning before an Allen County judge, who gave prosecutors 72 hours to formally charge Miller in the killing.

Miller is being held without bond. It wasn’t clear if Miller has a lawyer who could speak on his behalf.

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