PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. — A Platte County judge sentenced Clifford Miller, 31, to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of probation after he pleaded guilty to the murders of Britny Haarup and her sister Ashley Key.
Miller admitted he was high on meth at the time of the July 2012 murders. He told investigators he went to their Edgerton, Mo., home with the intention of raping Britny.
Platte County Sheriff Richard Andersen says Miller was surprised to find Britny’s 22-year-old sister Ashley Key sleeping on the couch when he entered the home. When she confronted him, Miller told detectives he decided to kill her.
“He began to punch her and beat her until she quit moving,” Sheriff Andersen said. “Then he smothered her with a pillow.”
According to prosecutors, after killing Ashley, Miller decided to kill Britny to cover up the first crime. Miller told police he then tried to have sex with a dead Britny Haarup but could because it was “too disgusting.”
Miller placed both women’s bodies in a family pick-up truck, stole four guns from the home and drove to a nearby field where he dumped the bodies. Soon, police received tips that Miller had been seen driving the missing truck and was trying to sell the guns.
Prosecutors said the crime was so heinous, he could have sought the death penalty.
“They would prefer to avoid the emotional turmoil that would be created by a trial and end this case now once and for all,” said Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd, referring to the families of Britny and Ashlee.