Cottage Grove man arrested in 2004 Arkansas murder

A Cottage Grove man is in the Lane County Jail, charged with first-degree murder in the killing of an Arkansas woman 16 years ago.

William Miller, 44, was taken into custody Saturday night by a special agent of the Arkansas Sate Police Criminal Investigation Division. The agent reportedly learned Miller had returned home after a long stay in the Philippines.

At the time of the murder, Miller was a Texas resident and was visiting Arkansas, state police said.

Victim Rebekah Christian Gould, who was 22, was found dead on a hillside off Highway 9 south of Melbourne in September 2004. Leading up to the discovery of her body, family members reported her missing and the community searched across much of the county. The case was turned over to Arkansas State Police. Police said it was never classified as a cold case.

“The special agents assigned to this case never abandoned any hope of finding the necessary evidence and facts to lead them to a suspect and an arrest,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of ASP. “This case is a testament to the Criminal Investigation Division and the devotion the special agents assigned to the division possess in helping police and sheriff’s department across Arkansas with their toughest cases.”