Published: July 02, 2009 01:54 pm      

Borden case will be on ‘America’s Most Wanted’

Prosecutor plans to amend suspect’s charge to murder

“America’s Most Wanted” has said it will be filming in Clark County late next week, according to local police.

The long-running national TV show will feature a fugitive wanted for killing a man on a horse farm in Borden.

Juan Delarosa, also known as Raul Cruz and Raul Selena, is accused of beating 36-year-old Ronald L. Miller to death with a wooden bed post May 25, 2005.

Maj. Chuck Adams, of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, said they believe Delarosa, 38, fled to his native Mexico shortly after the killing.

Miller, who was from Pekin, died during a STAT flight to University Hospital in Louisville, according to court records. An autopsy showed he died of “blunt-force head trauma.”

The victim and the suspect both worked on horse farms along Ind. 60 and Ind. 111 in Clark and Floyd counties, and Delarosa had a reputation as a quality horse trainer.

Delarosa was charged with class C felony battery. When the Clark County prosecutor’s office received word Wednesday that “America’s Most Wanted” would be filming, they made the decision to amend that charge to murder.

Adams said he was contacted by the show’s producers Monday. Floyd County police say they also were contacted about filming at a local farm, but the property owner said no.

According to previous reports in The Evening News, the TV show’s producers had interest in filming a segment on the case just days after the killing. When they heard that Delarosa had only been charged with battery, they decided against coming to Southern Indiana.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said the decision was made to increase the charge because there have been no new suspects since the case opened more than four years ago.

“With the evidence we had, [Prosecutor Steve Stewart] felt more comfortable charging Mr. Delarosa with a C felony at that time,” Mull said. “But at this point in time, we have had no additional suspects, and looking at the case, we only have evidence that this individual is involved in the murder.”

There were initially concerns with possible extradition from Mexico if Delarosa faced a charge of murder. Stewart was quoted in 2005 saying that some governments are hesitant to extradite if there is the possibility of the death penalty or life without parole.

The amended charges should be filed this week, Mull said.

Delarosa had reported three days prior to the murder that his prescribed medication was stolen in a burglary. He told two different individuals that he would seek revenge if he found out who stole his medicine, according to court documents.

Delarosa did not go to work the day after the killing and never picked up his $500 paycheck. The suspect’s ex-girlfriend said he told her that he had used a weapon against someone who was attempting to burglarize his home and that he received injuries to his bands.

Delarosa was seen at the nearby Bogey Inn the night before the murder and had no apparent injuries.

Miller had told his brother that he was scared the “Mexican” from Wheeler horse farm would come looking for him because he owed him money.

Police said they traced Delarosa to Chicago, but the trail went cold. He may have moved in with family in Zacatecas, Mexico. At the time of the murder, Delarosa was described as 5 feet 4 to 5 feet 6 inches tall and 130 to 140 pounds with dark hair and a medium complexion.