Marion County, FL, USA - May 1, 2024

On Wednesday afternoon, Marion County Sheriff’s Office Detective Joseph Miller arrested Daniel Brady Miller and Kelli Nichole Starling for Homicide - Aggravated Manslaughter of a Child, after an investigation into the death of 15-month-old Daltin Lee Miller.

On March 1, 2024, at around 4:15 p.m., MCSO deputies responded to 1412 NE 28th Lane, Ocala, in reference to Daltin being unresponsive. Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) pronounced Daltin deceased a short time later. The MCSO Major Crimes Unit responded and began to investigate the cause of his death. During the initial investigation, Detective Miller discovered that Daltin was removed from his parents’ custody at birth because he and Starling had tested positive for illegal drugs in their systems.

On February 9, 2024, Daniel Miller was granted custody of Daltin, but Starling was required to leave the residence due to her use of drugs. However, it was determined that she had returned to the home on February 27, 2024. Miller and Starling described that Daltin had been sick, congested, and having difficulty sleeping. They stated they were sleeping and, just prior to calling 911, noticed that Daltin was not breathing. While detectives and forensic crime scene technicians processed the scene, a black pouch containing drug paraphernalia and a powdery substance that tested positive for fentanyl was located in the room where Daltin died and in an easily accessible area. Starling and Miller both denied recent drug use but refused to provide a urine sample for a drug screening.

On April 22, 2024, Detective Miller reviewed the Cause and Manner of Death report from the 5th District Office of the Medical Examiner, which concluded that Daltin died from acute toxicity due to the combined effects of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and xylazine (a tranquilizer used in the veterinarian field for large livestock and commonly added to fentanyl to enhance the effects). Detective Miller was also advised that there was a significant amount of drugs in the victim’s blood and liver, which indicated the drugs were directly ingested.

Based on the fact that Daniel Miller and Kelli Starling failed to make a reasonable effort to protect Daltin from dangerous narcotics in a known drug location, Detective Miller obtained a warrant for their arrests.

Miller and Starling were located at their home on May 1, 2024, placed under arrest, and transported to the Marion County Jail, where they are held without bond.