Suvechha Sarkar
John Michael Mills never imagined that his life would change forever on June 25, 2003. He was just six years old when he escaped the fire that engulfed his house in Goliad, Texas, but unfortunately, it claimed the life of his 31-year-old mother, Patricia Leigh Mills. The episode titled ‘Secrets in the Ashes’ of NBC’s ‘Dateline’ revisits the circumstances that led to the fire, which was considered to be an accident during the initial investigation. The case went cold for several years before the reopening in 2011 revealed that Delbert Andrew Mills, John’s father and Patricia’s husband, was responsible for her death. It also features interviews with her loved ones and the officials who helped serve justice.
John Michael Mills Lost Patricia Forever After a Sudden Fire at Their House
In 1997, Patricia Leigh and Delbert Andrew Mills welcomed their son, John Michael Mills. He lived with his parents in the family home at 127 South San Patricio Street in Goliad, Texas, and always received immeasurable affection from his mother. Sadly, his life turned upside down on June 25, 2003. According to reports, John woke up around 8:30 am when he saw a raging fire from his bed. He reportedly belly-crawled to his room’s doorway and tried to call out for his mother, but in vain. As per official reports, he then crawled out of his bedroom window when a passerby, L.N. Garcia, rushed to the scene. Court records state that John asked for help, informing those present at the scene that Patricia was inside the home.
Unfortunately, by the time officials arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, Patricia had passed away. According to police records, the cause of the fire was ruled undetermined, and due to a lack of evidence, the case eventually went cold. In 2011, officials began reinvestigating the case, focusing on Delbert as the suspect. Reports state that several witnesses, including Patricia’s brother and sister, Richard Wiley and Sharon Burdette, reported that Patricia had caught Delbert having an affair with a woman named Allison Salinas. Several other people contacted the authorities, claiming that Delbert used to abuse Patricia physically and had threatened to kill her to avoid paying child support and getting a divorce.
Court records state that the detectives learned Delbert was the beneficiary of a life insurance policy on Patricia, amounting to $15,000, which he used to purchase a truck after her death. Furthermore, he reportedly married Allison just a little over two months after Patricia’s death. Ultimately, based on the multiple pieces of circumstantial evidence and witness statements, Delbert was arrested in December 2011 and charged with capital murder, which is considered a first-degree felony offense in Texas. His jury trial finally commenced on January 14, 2013, and he was ultimately found guilty of his charge. On January 17, 2013, Delbert was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in November 2041.
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John Mills Appears to Have Chosen the Path of Healing Alongside His Loved Ones
According to court records, shortly after Patricia’s death, Delbert had given the custody of his son, John, to Patricia’s sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Todd Burdette. Since then, they had reportedly raised John as their own son. By the time Delbert was convicted of Patricia’s murder, John was around 16 or 17 years old. Reports state that John believed that the case was reopened because of Sharon. While expressing his thoughts on the matter, he said, “It just goes to show that you should never give up, because it can still happen.” Following the conclusion of the trial, John had taken to the stand to ask his father the question, “You did not have the right to end her life, nor attempt to take mine. Delbert, why did you murder the one person in the world who truly loved me with all her heart and soul – my mother. Why?”
Reports state that in response to John’s question, Delbert replied, “I didn’t.” By the time John attended his father’s trial in January 2013, he had already changed his last name, as he reportedly wanted nothing to do with Delbert. According to records, John also embraced Sharon as a mother figure, even calling her “mom.” Despite the profound loss, John never let it define his life. He eventually completed his initial education at Victoria East High School in 2014, before beginning his professional trajectory. John finally discovered his calling in entrepreneurship, leading him to launch his own venture, Underground & Undiscovered. Through that business, he aims to show appreciation for artists who are not yet famous and to help them make their way into the mainstream someday.
From what we can tell, John was residing in Victoria, Texas, before moving to Atlanta, Texas, in 2020. Whenever he gets the chance, he reminisces about the good times he spent with his mother, Patricia, who loved him with all her heart. He often expresses his grief for her by sharing pictures with her, showcasing that he misses her a lot and does everything he can to keep her spirit alive. Sometime around June 2019, John’s world was once again filled with love and laughter as he met the love of his life. His life was further lit up with joy as he welcomed his child into the world with his soulmate. As of writing, John appears to be leading a peaceful life away from the spotlight and understandably prefers to protect his privacy. Irrespective of the immense grief John endured, he consistently moves forward in life with commendable resilience.
