Athens women charged with witness tampering

ATHENS (AP) — Two Athens women have been arrested on witness tampering charges after they allegedly tried to confuse a man who identified their loved one as a suspect.

Capt. Marty Bruce said Helen Marie Miller, 61, and Krystal Gail Thomas, 28, attempted to convince the victim of a car break-in that he was mistaken when he identified the man police arrested in that case.

"We arrested Ralph Eddie Miller about three weeks ago when the victim identified him as a suspect in an unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle," Bruce said. "Helen Miller is Miller's mother and Thomas is his girlfriend."

The women went to the victim and showed him a photograph of Miller. They were arrested Saturday after the victim came to police with a written statement saying he apparently was mistaken in identifying Miller.

But Bruce said after officers questioned the victim about it and showed him a current photo, he again identified Miller as the man who broke into his car.

Bruce said the women are accused of trying to confuse the victim so that Miller could be freed from jail. He said Miller is still in jail on a probation violation.

The tampering with a witness charge is a misdemeanor offense, police said.

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