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Ricky Dean Miller, 67, was charged with second-degree murder and unlawful disposal of human remains after admitting to deputies that he killed his longtime tenant, Dennis Eugene Schmitt, 71, at Miller's rural Woodland, Washington, property on November 28, 2025.

Miller owned property in the 3600 block of Old Lewis River Road in Woodland, Cowlitz County. Schmitt had lived in a separate residence or tiny home on the property for approximately 24 years. Their landlord-tenant relationship had become strained over the prior year. Miller described Schmitt as "mean" and said he wanted to evict him, while neighbors reported hearing yelling and fighting from the property.

Miller told investigators he went to Schmitt's residence the day after Thanksgiving to talk and reconcile. He said Schmitt told him to leave and grabbed his shoulder, causing him to stumble. Miller claimed self-defense, saying he felt scared before striking Schmitt with a wooden walking stick at least once, possibly more, then placing his foot on Schmitt's neck and his hand over Schmitt's mouth.

Miller said he returned about two days later and removed Schmitt's body, dragging it through a sliding glass door and covering it with a tarp. Days later, he bought an orange 55-gallon barrel from a feed store in Kelso, placed the body inside and hid the barrel behind Schmitt's home.

At approximately 6:53 p.m. on December 16, 2025, a family member, described as Miller's sister in some reports, called 911 after Miller admitted he had killed someone and hidden the body on the property. Deputies contacted Miller, and he admitted killing Schmitt. A search warrant was executed, and the body was found inside the barrel.

A December 19, 2025, autopsy found that Schmitt died from multiple blunt-force injuries to the head and showed evidence of strangulation. Evidence included the body in the barrel, the autopsy findings, Miller's statements to family and police, and the barrel purchase. Miller was booked into Cowlitz County Jail, initially held without bail and appointed a public defender. A bail review hearing was scheduled for around December 22, 2025. As of available reports through mid-2026, he had not been tried, convicted or sentenced, and the case remained pending in Cowlitz County Superior Court. No verdict or final sentence had been reported.

The video is a police interview-room recording that runs about 56 minutes. It shows the interview itself, with no narration or presenter.