April 29, 2021
A former small town Oklahoma police detective was sentenced Thursday afternoon to life in prison for killing his police chief during a law enforcement conference on Pensacola Beach in 2019.
Michael Patrick Nealey, 50, was found guilty of second degree murder for the death of Mannford Police Chief Lucky Miller.
It took a jury about two hours Wednesday to return the guilty verdict. Nealey will be sentenced on April 29.
Prosecutors said the murder was the result of an alcohol-fueled night. Prosecutors say the medical examiner determined Miller was beaten and strangled or suffocated to death.
Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
During Nealey s trial, forensic pathologist Dr. Aurelian Nicolaescu testified that Miller suffered about five blunt-force traumatic injuries to his head before his death.
The pathologist said Miller s body showed signs of strangulation and smothering with discoloration of the face, bleeding of the eyes and injured neck muscles.
Nealey s wife, Lisa Nealey, spoke in support of her husband at Thursday s sentencing hearing and asked Circuit Court Judge Thomas Dannheisser for leniency. Mike would never intentionally hurt someone. I ve lived with him for 21 years, I know this, she said, before adding, Please have leniency and mercy upon us.
However, Miller s father, Johnny Miller, asked the judge for the harshest possible punishment for second-degree murder under Florida law, which is life in prison.
April 1, 2021
A former small town Oklahoma police detective has been convicted in Escambia County of killing his police chief during a law enforcement conference on Pensacola Beach in 2019.
Michael Patrick Nealey, 50, was found guilty of second degree murder for the death of Mannford Police Chief Lucky Miller.
It took a jury about two hours Wednesday to return the guilty verdict. Nealey will be sentenced on April 29.
Prosecutors said the murder was the result of an alcohol-fueled night. Prosecutors say the medical examiner determined Miller was beaten and strangled or suffocated to death.
Images courtesy WEAR 3 for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.