The woman found dead in a Schuylkill Haven Parkway home Monday afternoon has been identified by police as 24-year-old Haley Mills.
Mills was found dead in her home at 20 Parkway by a friend who was asked by her family to do a welfare check. Police in Schuylkill Haven deferred the investigation lead to Pennsylvania State Police.
On Tuesday, The Canary obtained a copy of an affidavit of probable cause filed by State Police and signed by District Magistrate David Plachko on Monday. That document reveals why police are calling Mills’ death “definitely suspicious.”
According to the court documents, police say Mills was found in an interior staircase in a partially undressed.
The friend – identified as Hugo Noel – who came to check on Mills said that he and Mills hung out all day on New Year’s Day. He checked back in with Mills on Jan. 2 and described Mills as being “dope sick” but in general to be “okay”, police say. They added that the phrase “dope sick” means she was likely in opiate withdrawal.
When Noel did the welfare check on Monday, he told police that there was cash “strewn about in an unorganized manner” on the living room floor. Police believe this could be evidence of a struggle. Further, a family member told police Monday that Mills was known to have access to or be in possession of “large amounts” of money at any given time. Police believe this could give someone motive to target Mills.
At about 5 p.m., two Schuylkill County Coroners Office deputies attempted to move Mills when ligature marks and a small indentation were discovered on her neck. Police believe these marks combined with where Mills was found inside her home could be further signs of a struggle and her attempt to fight or flee her possible attacker or attackers. They say the use of a weapon that led to Mills’ death can’t be ruled out until a thorough forensic exam is completed.
In their application for a search warrant, police were seeking to not only collect evidence at the scene but also any potential contacts Mills made through any of her electronic devices as well as security cameras located outside her residence.
On Monday, Pennsylvania State Police said it appeared Mills had been dead for approximately 48 hours before she was discovered Monday afternoon. In addition to the money being strewn about the living room, they also said her home was in “extreme disarray” when they arrived.
The Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office confirmed to The Canary on Tuesday that an autopsy of Mills is scheduled for Thursday.
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