Around midnight on Saturday, July 27, 2024, the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Office responded to a distressing 911 call.
Clara Miko, a 95-year-old resident of Denton Township, Michigan, reported that her son, John Miko, was repeatedly assaulting her and she feared for her life.
Deputies arrived at the scene to find Clara on the floor of her garage apartment, severely injured and unable to move.
Despite the deputies’ swift action and Clara’s transport to Grayling Munson Hospital, she succumbed to her injuries in the morning. Authorities located John Miko, 60, in the main house. He was reportedly drunk and defiant. This wasn’t his first run-in with the law; he was already on probation for a previous domestic assault.
John Miko was taken into custody and later arraigned on charges of first-degree homicide, first-degree vulnerable adult abuse, and assault by strangulation. He remains in the Roscommon County Jail on a $1 million bond.
This tragic incident has shaken the quiet community of Denton Township. Clara Miko, described by neighbors as a kind and gentle soul, lived in a garage apartment attached to the main house where her son resided. The relationship between the mother and son had been strained, as evidenced by John’s prior domestic violence conviction.
John Miko’s behavior at the scene further complicated the situation. The sheriff’s office reported that he was “intoxicated and uncooperative,” making it difficult for deputies to gather initial statements and evidence.
As the investigation continues, Roscommon County authorities are piecing together the events that led to this heartbreaking incident. The community is left grappling with the shock of Clara’s violent end at the hands of her own son, a situation that seemed unimaginable to those who knew her.
The bond set at $1 million for John Miko reflects the community’s outrage and the serious threat he poses. It ensures he remains in custody as the legal process unfolds.