Peter and Pamela Miller have pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal fire at their rental home in Noyac, Suffolk County. The fire resulted in the deaths of Lindsay Wiener, 19, and Jillian Wiener, 21, who were vacationing with their family.
"First and foremost, our hearts go out to the Wiener family, who lost these young women in this tragic fire. Such a loss is unimaginable, and our community mourns with them," said Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney. "We take all matters involving housing regulations very seriously, as they are crucial for public safety. If you have a rental home, you have a duty to make sure that it is safe."
On August 2, 2022, the Maryland family attempted to use an outdoor charcoal grill attached to the main house. After experiencing issues with cooking the food on the grill, they moved indoors to finish cooking. They went to sleep around 11:30 p.m.
At approximately 3:30 a.m., on August 3, 2022, the parents awoke to the sound of glass shattering and discovered a fire in the kitchen. The couple escaped but could not rescue their children due to intense heat conditions. Their son jumped from a second-story window to escape.
Firefighters from Sag Harbor Fire Department found Jillian and Lindsay on the second floor; both succumbed to their injuries at Southampton Hospital.
Investigations revealed that no fire alarms were heard during the incident. The origin of the fire was traced back to an improperly constructed outdoor kitchen without necessary permits or inspections. Additionally, smoke detectors throughout the house were either improperly connected or lacked battery backups.
The Millers faced multiple code violations including failing to obtain rental permits and ensuring proper installation of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
On August 22, 2024, Peter Miller pleaded guilty to two counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide while Pamela Miller pleaded guilty to Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree on August 26, 2024.
The Millers are scheduled for court on November 7, 2024. They are represented by Edward Burke Jr., Esq.
This case is prosecuted by Bureau Chief Timothy Gough and Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty of the Homicide Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Special Investigator John Roberts along with Southampton Town Fire Marshal Shane Sharkey and Southampton Town Police Department.