A landlord in Cowlitz County, Washington, faces second-degree murder charges after his tenant’s body was found hidden in a barrel on his property. Ricky Dean Miller, 67, allegedly confessed to a family member, prompting a 911 call on December 16, 2025. The victim, 71-year-old Dennis Eugene Schmitt, suffered multiple blunt-force head injuries and signs of strangulation, per autopsy results.​
Incident Details
Authorities responded to the 3600 block of Old Lewis River Road around 6:53 p.m. following the suspicious call from Miller’s relative. A search warrant led deputies to discover Schmitt’s body inside a barrel; Schmitt rented a separate structure on Miller’s land. Miller was arrested on December 17 and booked without bond into Cowlitz County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and unlawful disposal of human remains.​
Victim and Cause of Death
An autopsy on December 19 confirmed Schmitt’s death resulted from blunt-force trauma to the head combined with strangulation evidence. Schmitt, Miller’s tenant, lived separately on the property, highlighting a landlord-tenant relationship gone fatally wrong.​
Current Status
No recent updates indicate changes to Miller’s jail status or court proceedings as of late December 2025; he remains in custody without bond. The investigation continues, with no trial date reported in available sources.
