Murder Suspect Says He Killed
Eldred Teen Because He was a 'Snitch'

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director


One of the people accused of killing an 18-year-old Eldred boy says he shot him because he was a snitch and he was arrogant.

That’s according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in District Judge Annette Easton’s office for 19-year-old Jonothan Prather of Coudersport.

He and 25-year-old Avery Buckingham are both charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of Samuel Miller. A 15-year-old girl is also facing charges.

According to the court papers, Prather told Buckingham “he needed to kill Miller because he is a snitch.” Buckingham told police Prather had been talkng about killing Miller for about three weeks. At around 8:30 p.m. on June 4 Prather, Buckingham, Miller, the 15-year-old and her sister went to the Foster Brook Wal-Mart to buy a spotlight. They then went to Coudersport, dropped off the 15-year-old’s sister, and then went to a pull-off on Prouty Road near a bridge.

At about 3 a.m. on June 5 Prather shot Miller multiple times. After emptying his .22 caliber rifle, Prather allegedly shot Miller again in the temple “because he wanted to make sure he was dead and didn’t want him to suffer.” An autopsy later showed that he was shot three times in the head and five times in the torso. Buckingham told police Prather then went through Miller’s pockets looking for money. Prather and Buckingam then allegedly dragged the body down the road and threw it into the creek while the 15-year-old held the spotlight.

A fisherman found Miller’s body in Prouty Run Creek at around 4:30 Saturday afternoon. Police then collected evidence and interviewed people to determine that Prather, Buckingham adn the girl were suspects.

The 15-year-old told police that Prather and Buckingham told her that “snitches get stitches, and that similar circumstances could befall her if she talked about this incident,” according to court papers.

She did, however, tell police that the gun Prather used was hidden in an attic.

Prather and Buckingam are both jailed without bail. Besides first-degree murder they are both charged with third-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and corruption of minors.

The 15-year-old is being held in a juvenile facility.

Comments

Anonymous said…
What the hell were these two thinking when they did this? Common sense would tell you not to do it. Now we have to keep our kids locked up to keep them out of harmns way?
Anonymous said…
What is a 15 year old doing out at 3pm the morning?
My prayers go out to the young mans family.
Anonymous said…
@"Now we have to keep our kids locked up to keep them out of harmns way?" - Yes, that's the perfect mentality to develop in response to this incident. Teach your kids to be afraid to leave your home.
@"What is a 15 year old doing out at 3pm the morning?"
-Typically mornings don't have a 3pm. However, in the rare circumstances like these that they apparently do occur, it looks like what the 15 yr old was doing was assisting in a murder.
Anonymous said…
What in the world was the "snitch" snitching about that was worth being killed over?? And "he was too arrogant"?? Sure sounds like the killer was playing God. How sad.
lisa said…
i am praying for the family.
Anonymous said…
i think its terrible no matter how you look at it ...this situation may not mean much to you if you havent ever been effected by a situtation like this ... i think its sad all the way around...those "KIDS" need the death penalty ...ANYONE who intentionally kills somebody ...should have no rights nor should we be held for the bill of a public defender
Anonymous said…
Wow. It's absolutely horrible. To have that kind of mentality and intellect is a sad sad thing. Let's kill someone because they are a snitch. Well apparently that went thought through very well because if you were in trouble for someone telling on you, you are definitely in trouble and hopefully never see the light of day again for killing them. I agree death penalty is in order for ALL of them.
Anonymous said…
These murderers have watched WAY too much tv. The geniuses all to to camera saturated WalMart together to buy a spotlight before they killed him? Then they pull the "snitches get stitches" line? Fresh meat for the big house. I wonder how the 15 year olds "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" essay will read next school year.
My condolences to the family of the murdured boy.

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