Man arrested after Gilbert woman found dead at home. He blamed drugs

A man is accused of abandoning the body of a woman he was romantically involved with and selling some of her belongings, according to Gilbert police and court records.

The man, Kristopher Lauchner, 52, later told police he had mental health issues and that he did not want to live without his partner, Cindy Miller. He was previously court ordered not to contact her.

Miller's family called police on Aug. 8 to check on the 55-year-old at her home near McQueen and Warner roads, because they hadn't heard back from her in days, court records said. Her niece met police at the home, who said she used a spare key hidden in the backyard to enter.

The niece told police the inside of the home was unusual. She said Miller's bedroom was emanating a foul smell, according to court records.

Officers opened the door and found Miller's body in bed with the covers pulled over almost her entire body, including part of her face, records said.

Police found numerous pills, both illegal and prescription, in the room where Miller was found, according to court records. They were also found in her purse, pill organizers and in unmarked plastic bags around the room.

Miller's family and friends realized no one had spoken to Miller on the phone since the afternoon of Aug. 4. One did say that after that day, they received texts from Miller's phone that did not sound like her, according to court records.

That person told police that messages sent from Miller's phone indicated she was in pain from a previous surgery and refused to answer phone calls because of a sudden strep throat, court records said.

Around 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, Lauchner reached out to Miller's adult daughter on Facebook. The daughter told Lauchner her mother died, and Lauchner replied, "I know I'm thinking I should go with her..." court records said.

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The next day, police returned to Miller's home and tried putting more pieces together.

Miller's family shared new information. Miller was in a relationship but also romantically involved with Lauchner. They said Lauchner had a history of domestic violence, and the pair would also use drugs together, primarily meth, according to court records.

Lauchner also wasn't allowed to be near Miller or her home because of a court order.

He was put on an ankle monitor after he was accused of a previous domestic violence incident between the pair at Miller's home in May. Gilbert police learned Lauchner's tracking device had not been working since July 12 and was last pinged at Miller's home, court records said.

Also on Aug. 9, Lauchner sent a somber message about Miller, according to court records.

"My best friend and the person who loved me beyond any other died in her sleep a few days ago," Lauchner told his pretrial officer.

The investigation continued to unravel. Police learned that several items were missing from Miller's home, including a spare car key, her cell phone, iPad and various pieces of expensive jewelry, the court records said.

Police found Lauchner had pawned a diamond ring and diamond necklace that belonged to Miller, according to court records.

Miller's relatives also noted she was the only one who drives her vehicle, a Mercedes.

Police found, by searching through Flock license plate reader data, that Miller's vehicle was used from Aug. 5 to 7, according to court records. Police also obtained surveillance footage from a QuikTrip in Mesa around 3 a.m. on Aug. 7, which showed someone who appeared to be Lauchner alone inflating the tires of the Mercedes, court records said.

Camera footage from within Miller's home painted a clearer picture as to when Miller could have been killed, according to court records.

Miller was alive the afternoon of Aug. 4. On Aug. 5, Lauchner was seen opening the kitchen fridge, court records said, and about an hour later, Miller's jewelry was pawned. In the kitchen footage, police said a possible handgun was seen in Lauchner's waistband.

On Aug. 7, Lauchner was seen in the home wearing work gloves, moving the camera and pointing it away from the kitchen, according to court records.

Data from Miller and Lauchner's cell phones showed Miller's phone was moving in the same location as Lauchner's was the day Miller's body was found by police, according to court records.

Gilbert police arrested Lauchner on Aug. 11, who police said uttered, "She overdosed," according to court records.

Lauchner said Miller's handgun was in a fanny pack he was wearing and told police he knew he could not possess weapons after he was previously convicted of a felony, according to court records.

In a post-arrest interview, Lauchner told police the two had used drugs at an East Valley hotel between Aug. 4 and early into Aug. 5, according to court records. Lauchner said Miller used gamma hydroxybutyrate or GHB, a depressant, and soon became "altered" and was moaning, court records said.

Lauchner told police he fell asleep with Miller and later woke up to her being nonresponsive, court records said. He said he checked for a pulse and performed CPR on her but knew he was not supposed to be in contact with her.

Lauchner said he didn't call police or medical services because he knew she was dead, court records said. He said he left her at the hotel and went to a relative's residence to replace the battery in his ankle monitor before returning to the hotel, court records said.

When he got back to the hotel, he grabbed their belongings, took Miller home in her vehicle and laid her in her bed, according to court records.

He left to meet with his pretrial officer, then sold Miller's belongings at a pawn shop to get money, according to court records.

He also told police he sent texts to Miller's loved one on Aug. 5, because he didn't want her to worry about her, court records said. He said he did not know where Miller's phone was.

Lauchner denied doing anything to directly cause Miller's death.

The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner later performed an autopsy on Miller and found no signs of trauma or natural disease, records said.

Lachner was arrested and booked on suspicion of abandoning a concealed body, burglary, trafficking stolen property, unlawful means of transportation and possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, according to police.

He was scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 18.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Man arrested after Gilbert woman found dead at home. He blamed drugs