Subpoenas issued for Eric Millerberg hearing

OGDEN -- Subpoenas have been issued for next month's preliminary hearing for Eric Millerberg in the death of Alexis Rasmussen.

Most prominent on the list of those scheduled to testify against him is his wife, Dea Millerberg.

Officials declined to comment on the witness list, which is included as part of the case file.

The hearing April 19 before 2nd District Judge Scott Hadley is a mini-trial held to ensure the case meets the court's minimum standard of evidence, known as probable cause, to advance Millerberg to trial. Probable cause is a lower standard than the "beyond a reasonable doubt" plateau needed at trial for conviction.

Millerberg is charged with child abuse homicide, obstruction of justice, unlawful sexual activity with a minor and abuse or desecration of a body, all alleged to have occurred Sept. 11. Rasmussen was reported missing that same weekend, her last known whereabouts baby-sitting for the Millerbergs.

The 16-year-old's body was recovered Oct. 18 near the Weber River in Morgan County.

Police subpoenaed to testify are North Ogden police detectives Mike Tribe and Bill Aeschliman and Weber County Attorney's Office investigator Shane Minor, who heads the countywide homicide task force that joined North Ogden in the investigation.

Bonnie Cain and daughter Brenna Cain, who live across the street from the Millerberg home in North Ogden, are also subpoenaed. Assistant State Medical Examiner Joe White completes the list.

Dea Millerberg is charged with abuse or desecration of a body related to the attempt to hide the remains of Rasmussen. She is scheduled for an April 25 status conference on the charge, as well as two unrelated cases, before Judge W. Brent West.

In filing the charges last month against the Millerbergs, prosecutors declined to release details such as what drug Rasmussen died from in the Millerbergs' North Ogden home or elaborate on the sexual offense. In search warrant affidavits, police say the Millerbergs had an ongoing relationship with Rasmussen that included partying and her selling prescription drugs to school friends, supervised by Dea Millerberg.

Eric Millerberg is currently in prison on unrelated drug probation violation charges filed the first week in October. Dea Millerberg also was arrested that week on prescription drug charges, for which she made bail and awaits trial.

Days after their arrest, a search warrant was executed at their home Oct. 9 as the search for the missing Rasmussen had become a homicide investigation.

Sometime after the Oct. 9 search of the home, Dea Millerberg was charged with child endangerment after hair-follicle tests done on the couple's infant daughter showed positive for methamphetamine exposure.

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