Man accused of killing his parents, told Phoenix police it was a murder-suicide

A man was arrested Monday and charged with the murder of his parents, according to the Phoenix Police Department.

Early Monday morning, Phoenix police responded to a call reporting domestic violence at a residence near 35th Street and Campo Bello Drive. The caller claimed Sam Miller, 73, had shot and killed his wife, Marjorie Valentine, 72, before killing himself.

When officers arrived, they identified the couple's son, 38-year-old Jim Miller, as the caller and an unharmed roommate at the residence. Miller was detained on suspicion of shooting his parents.

While being questioned by detectives, Miller told police that he had lived with his parents for the last two years. During this time, he claimed his father would drink and become violent against his mother.

The week leading up to the incident, his parents had been verbally abusive toward Miller, which caused him to snap and use his father's shotgun against his parents, according to Miller.

The roommate who lived with the family told police Miller had a history of erratic, violent behavior. In 2019, police responded to a situation at the residence where Miller threatened his mother and roommate with a handgun before shooting at the ceiling.

Miller also told police he had previously been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, depression and anxiety and frequently used meth, leaving the house after the murder to buy and use the drug.

Miller was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. His next court date is set for Feb. 16.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Son charged with murder, told Phoenix police he shot his parents