Amish Mother Deemed Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in Son's Drowning Death

Ruth Miller will not face prison time for killing her 4-year-old son in 2025.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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An Amish mother named Ruth Miller has been found not guilty by reason of insanity for drowning her 4-year-old son Vincen in August 2025. Miller also attempted to drown her three teenage children but they survived. A judge ruled that Miller was suffering from a severe mental illness at the time that prevented her from understanding the wrongfulness of her actions.

Why it matters

This case highlights the critical need for improved access to mental health resources, especially in underserved communities. It also raises questions about how the criminal justice system should handle cases where severe mental illness is a factor in violent crimes.

The details

According to authorities, Miller drowned her son Vincen and then told deputies she had "thrown him in the lake" and "gave him to God." She also tried to drown her three teenage children by putting them in a golf cart and driving into a lake, but they survived. Miller pleaded not guilty and opted for a bench trial, where three separate doctors testified that she was suffering from a "severe mental disease" at the time that prevented her from understanding her actions were wrong.

  • On August 23, 2025, Miller drowned her 4-year-old son Vincen.
  • On March 3, 2026, a judge ruled that Miller was not guilty by reason of insanity.
  • On March 13, 2026, Miller will return to court to determine where she will go from here.

The players

Ruth Miller

An Amish mother of four who drowned her 4-year-old son Vincen in 2025 and attempted to drown her three teenage children, but was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Vincen

Miller's 4-year-old son who she drowned in 2025.

Judge Michael Ernest

The Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court judge who ruled that Miller was not guilty by reason of insanity.

Fred Scott

The Tuscarawas County Assistant Prosecutor who addressed the court during the trial.

Ian Friedman

The defense attorney who represented Miller and argued that her mental illness, not an attempt to "get away with murder", led to the tragic events.

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What they’re saying

“I threw him in the lake, and I gave him to God.”

— Ruth Miller (WKYC)

“When you have a unanimous decision that the defendant did not understand the wrongfulness of her conduct, was in a psychotic state, the decision kind of writes itself.”

— Fred Scott, Tuscarawas County Assistant Prosecutor (WKYC)

“I would say it absolutely is not getting away with murder. Ruth Miller would not have been involved in this case, had it not been for the mental disease that you heard about in the courtroom, period. And that that's a hard stop. End of story.”

— Ian Friedman, Defense Attorney (WKYC)

What’s next

On March 13, 2026, Miller will return to court to learn where she will go from here, likely to receive mental health treatment.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the critical need for improved access to mental health resources, especially in underserved communities. It also raises important questions about how the criminal justice system should handle cases where severe mental illness is a factor in violent crimes.