WARNING: The following autopsy information regarding the deceased body of Brittany Ann Miller of Smithville, Tennessee is graphic, while some of the contents may not be suitable for personal reviews and varying age groups. I chose to reveal the cause of death because the manner of death had already been disclosed as a “homicide.” This also is another legal term for “murder.” While reading this article, please fondly remember the victim, her family, and her friends. Overall, there seems to be more public questions than answers provided. This series is for Brittany.
This simple and above five-word headline was the cause of death of popular and beautiful local resident Brittany Ann Miller, whose body was found only a few yards from her property, stuffed into a green metallic chest, and finally landed in a ravine, only to be found more than two-years later.
This information recently was supplied by the Office of the Medical Examiner, Center for Forensic Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee. This personal and individual inquisition was questioned when I could find no answers as to why the Cadaver dogs could not readily find Miller’s body, which they are meticulously trained to do. Finally answered, dogs cannot smell nor identify bodies located in metal containers. This simple information never was shared to the press or to inquiring individuals.
At the time, the Sheriff of DeKalb County, Patrick Ray, issued the following statement immediately after Miller’s body was discovered: “We are not disclosing how the body was found or the cause of death due to the sensitive nature of the investigation.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, now the governing body regarding the murder case, only said the investigation “was still active and ongoing at this time.” They had no pertinent information to offer before press time, although accordingly, they now are in charge of the case. There has been limited and sparse information released about this case from either investigating agency. There has been no definition of what the “sensitive nature of the investigation” means in this context.
In a recently disclosed autopsy report, Miller’s manner of death was listed as a “homicide” and the method of death was a “gunshot wound of the head.” It was also revealed that her body was found in a green metallic chest in a ravine. These incidents have been non-disclosed, but known, since the autopsy report was released in January, 2025. In the United States, “The most common method of killing another person is by gunfire,” wrote the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
A court-ordered autopsy, conducted on January 12, 2025, revealed the gory findings just recently and included the above manner of death. Also, it was revealed that Miller’s body was placed inside a “green metal storage container.” Miller’s known residence at the time was listed as Hurricane Ridge Road, Smithville, Tennessee 37166.
Following weeks of intense investigation and within this two-part newspaper series, the report was sent to me via an email response. Last week’s article, “AUTOPSY RESULTS RELEASED,” is a precursor of this week’s article, entitled simply “GUNSHOT WOUND OF THE HEAD.” It is identified as a: “Report of Investigation by County Medical Examiner, Center for Forensic Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.” It is signed by the Tennessee Medical Examiner Adele M. Lewis, MD, PhD, of Judicial District 13 and the District Attorney was the Honorable Brian C. Dunaway. The state number for this report is 25-21-0003 with the case number being MEC25-0130.
It lists Miller’s date of death as January 11, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. In all probability, this was the date and time her body was discovered. She had been missing for 2.5 years prior. The investigating agency listed was the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and her place of death was listed as 1723 Man Hill Road, Smithville, Tennessee, although her body was found approximately 600 yards across the street’s pavement – on different property owned by local businessman, Myron Rhody. According to a reporter for this newspaper, Chris Tramel, he said, “Her (Miller’s) body was found approximately 600 yards away from the above listed address.”
Within this context, the Pathological Report showed no drugs and it also showed “Decomposed remains concealed in a metal chest in a ravine.”
In the Narrative Summary, it states: “Reportedly, this 34-year-old was found deceased inside of a metal storage container by bystanders. The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office was notified of the discovery and responded to the scene. Death was confirmed on the scene due to obvious signs of decomposition and mummification (see below). Investigator Travis Merriman with the DeKalb County Medical Examiner’s Office contacted the Middle-Tennessee Regional Forensic Center and requested an autopsy. The decedent (Miller) was transferred for examination to the Tennessee Forensic Regional Center to determine her cause and manner of death,” wrote Investigator Hayden Webster on January 11, 2025.
In continuation, the Autopsy Report further revealed:
1 Gunshot wound of the head
a. Entrance gunshot wound of the superior skull.
2. Decomposed remains concealed in a metallic chest in a ravine.
3. Toxicology report (see above). No legal or illegal drugs were found in the body.
In addition, the autopsy revealed normal reproductive organs (uterus and ovaries) with no pregnancy. There was no assumption made or evidence revealed regarding whether a rape was committed before death – only that the reproductive organs were decomposed.
The autopsy’s conclusion reads, “The autopsy’s findings include a gunshot wound of the head and decomposition. And, in consideration of known circumstances, considering this with review of the victim’s medical history, and the examination of the remains, the cause of death is ascribed to a gunshot wound of the head. The manner of death is homicide.”
Many questions have surfaced since the murder, especially why her body was not found during the prior two and one-half years? Did anyone see the chest in the ravine? If so, why wasn’t it inspected by law enforcement? Where did the chest come from and who owned it? Have there been any possible interviews of a subject? Was the gun used in the homicide a shotgun (pellets)? If not, what type of gun was used? What caliber shot and was there only one shot? Was she thrown or placed in the ravine?
As of press time, there have been no further updates or arrests related to this case. However, it publicly was announced last Wednesday, May 22, 2025 that the current Sheriff, Patrick Ray, would not be seeking re-election to this same position.
For questions and/or comments regarding these two articles: leannfjudkins@gmail.com.
