Accused in Catie Miller death plead guilty to murder, interfering with human remains

WARNING: This story contains graphic details some readers may find disturbing. 

Two guilty pleas have been entered in the trial of two people accused of killing of 29-year-old Catie Miller, who went missing in July 2014.

READ MORE: Halifax police confirm remains of Catie Miller were found in November

Jason Johnson and Kelly MacDonald pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and interfering with human remains Thursday morning. The two were originally charged with first-degree murder and interfering with human remains.

Both have been sentenced to life in prison. Johnson will not be eligible for parole for 20 years, Kelly for 16 years.

The pair has also been sentenced to five years for indecently interfering with Catie’s remains. That sentence will be served at the same time as the sentence for murder.

“The unthinkable happened to me on July 15, 2014,” Catie’s mother, Terry Miller, said while reading her victim impact statement to the court.

“I will never get used to living without Catie,” she said. “Catie’s violent death has caused me to become a different person.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I will never get used to living without Catie," she said. "Catie's violent death has caused me to become a different person."

Catie left behind a three-year-old son, who Terry said still talks about missing his mother.

Catie Miller was violently killed

Catie was violently murdered and her remains scattered and hidden in the woods, according to a statement of facts.

She was last seen getting into a vehicle with Johnson on July 15 in Bedford. The court heard the two used to be in a relationship. Both Catie’s bank and social media accounts were inactive after that day.

READ MORE: Investigators in Catie Miller case find human remains

Catie was reportedly brutally beaten until she was unconscious.

Johnson later picked up MacDonald and their infant child, while Catie was unconscious in the trunk of his vehicle. She was confined there for some time before she was killed.

Johnson told police he slit Catie’s throat and cut off her hands and head. Her hands were reportedly discarded near the airport and her torso tied to a tree in Lawrencetown.

READ MORE: Hundreds attend Catie Miller’s memorial

MadDonald led police to the location of Catie’s torso. The court heard some evidence was also discarded in the ocean.

According to court records, investigators found Catie Miller’s head last month on a property in Lawrencetown.

Follow @heide_pearson

— With files from Natasha Pace, Global News.