WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – The grief-stricken father of a toddler who died after being left in a hot car says his son would still be alive if the Department of Social Services had handled their custody case differently.
Xy’mere Miller was four months old when he died on Aug. 25 after being left alone in a vehicle for what family members say were hours. His father, John Miller II, is calling his son’s death a tragic failure of the system meant to protect children.
“I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare,” John Miller said through tears. “I know I could have many more kids, but I want that kid. I want that child.”
John Miller says Xy’mere Miller was removed from his birth mother’s care immediately after birth and placed with Armina Seals Middleton, who has since been charged in connection with the boy’s death. Xy’mere’s grandfather, Pastor John T. Miller, says he and his wife had been fighting for months to gain custody of both Xy’mere and his older sister.
“We feel that we were let down by the system. We really do,” John T. Miller explained. “The system wasn’t really providing anything, and we did everything they asked us to do,” said Wanda Miller, Xy’mere’s grandmother.
Ironically, the Millers say the day Xy’mere died, DSS granted them temporary custody of his older sibling. The timing has left the family questioning whether their son’s death could have been prevented had the agency acted more swiftly on their initial custody requests.
“None of it had to happen,” the family maintains, expressing both grief over their loss and frustration with what they see as systemic failures.
Middleton faces charges of homicide by child abuse, related to Xy’mere Miller’s death. She is currently out of jail on bond.
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