A Camden man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Harold “Hal” Miller Jr., who disappeared in June, according to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office. Officials said Everton Thomas, 41, is accused of killing Miller, while his wife Sherrie Parker, 41, and their son Deshawn Thomas, 22, face charges of desecration of human remains and tampering with evidence.
Miller was last seen on June 12 after entering a residence in Camden before 11:30 a.m. Surveillance footage and cellphone data indicated he never left the home. Authorities reported that soon after Miller entered, a gunshot was heard on video.
Bloodstains belonging to Miller were later found inside the family’s home more than a week after his disappearance. According to officials, Everton Thomas was seen moving Miller’s vehicle on surveillance footage. The car was discovered in Pennsauken on June 14.
The prosecutor’s office stated that Sherrie Parker and Deshawn Thomas purchased items including a chainsaw, containers, trash bags and cleaning supplies after Miller entered the residence but did not exit. Everton and Deshawn Thomas were also observed making multiple trips to dumpsters at a local apartment complex with containers and trash bags.
Detectives searched the family’s home on June 20 and found Everton Thomas armed with a loaded firearm as well as bloodstains inside. On June 21, officials said Everton Thomas fled New Jersey for Canada.
Charges against all three were filed by the prosecutor’s office on September 5 while Everton Thomas remained in Canada. He returned to the United States by bus on September 8 and was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Buffalo in New York. Sherrie Parker and Deshawn Thomas were arrested in Camden that same day by U.S. marshals.
Everton Thomas is currently detained in New York pending extradition to New Jersey.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to Miller’s death to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office detective Jake Siegfried at (856) 225-5086 or Camden County police detective Andrew Mogck at (609) 519-8588.
