Arthur H. Miller

The final chapter for Arthur H. Miller, the University of Iowa political science professor accused of bribing students for sexual favors in exchange for grades, closed Tuesday with a positive identification of his body.

Using dental records, the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that the body found in Hickory Hill Park on Sunday in Iowa City was indeed that of Miller.

Miller, 66, had been reported missing last Wednesday by his wife and was eventually found in the park by Daniel Hoover, 51, of Marion, who works for the Linn County Underwater Search and Recovery unit, the Press-Citizen reported. Although the search for Miller had been suspended by the Iowa City Police Department Thursday evening, Hoover wanted to give it a shot.

“It was something because of past associations that I thought I could do,” Hoover told the Press-Citizen. “I didn’t think it would bother me if I did find a body, so I thought I would give it a try.”

Miller, who was put on administrative leave by the UI in May as the school and police officials investigated allegations of sexual misconduct, was arrested Aug. 8 and charged with four counts of soliciting a bribe, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He was accused of allegedly offering four of his students better grades if they bared their breasts or let him fondle them.

News of his arrest reportedly led to Miller’s downward spiral, which culminated with his suicide in the park.

With Miller’s death, the criminal case is closed, Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness told the Press-Citizen.

Upon confirmation of Miller’s death, UI President Sally Mason issued a statement Wednesday. “We extend our sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Arthur Miller,” Mason said. “The loss of Professor Miller’s life is very sad news. No one would have wished for such a tragic end to this difficult situation.”

Arthur H. Miller

The search for Arthur H. Miller in Iowa City’s Hickory Hill Park was suspended by the Iowa City Police Department tonight at 6 p.m. Although Miller’s whereabouts are still unknown, the ICPD reopened the park to the public.

Miller, the University of Iowa political science professor who was charged with four counts of soliciting bribes, was last seen Tuesday morning and was subsequently reported missing the following morning by his wife. According to police records, Miller allegedly offered female students better grades in exchange for sexual favors.

Based on a “cryptic” note he left behind police have said they suspect Miller is already dead, the Press-Citizen reported. Moreover, Miller removed a passport from a safety deposit box and updated his will in the days leading up to his disappearance, Iowa City Police Sgt. Mike Brotherton told the Press-Citizen.

Based on a formal statement released by Miller’s family tonight, it appears they are losing hope in his return as well:

Dear Iowans:

Today’s rain is not only slowing the search of our husband and father, it is also washing away our last hopes for Arthur’s return. It’s been a long way for him and, sadly, a very lonely way. During all these months he was trying to protect his family by not sharing all the pain and sorrow which were filling his heart. He was looking for some help outside but, unfortunately, did not find enough compassion and willingness to hear his story.

Arthur will always remain in the hearts of his wife, children, and family. Our memories of him would bring us to the library, where he was taking his son for Saturday’s story time, to the farmers market, where we would enjoy outdoor music performances and eat some freshly baked muffins, to all the wonderful games which he played with his sons at home, to daytrips which we took together with our children to see and teach them to appreciate a bigger world.

Professor Arthur Herbert Miller will be remembered as one of the most distinguished scientists in his area of research, a mentor to many who owe him their successful careers, a friend to many people who live in different countries and on different continents, a teacher who believed that independent thinking is one of the most important skills which should help develop his students.

The ordeal of the last two weeks has become unbearable for Arthur. He could not live with the thought that his name and reputation were smeared and associated with the thing which he believed he never had done.

As a family, we would like to ask the media to be considerate of our current situation and respect our privacy as we struggle through this difficult period in our lives.

Miller, the University of Iowa political science professor accused of trading grades for sexual favors, was reported missing Wednesday morning. Iowa City police are searching a park where Miller’s car was found, and believe he may have a rifle. Police are openly saying that Miller is likely dead.

A note found at Miller’s home was “cryptic enough that it causes us some concern that he may be out to harm himself,” said a police spokesman.

“Not a single university administrator, not even the chairman of my department, came to me and asked me if I were OK” or inquired about his health after the allegations went public, Miller told the Gazette. He also said he believed the allegations “were part of a vendetta against him by Linda Maxson, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,” after an academic program headed by Miller was closed in 2002, the article stated.

The Gazette states that Miller called the paper between 9:30 and 10:30 Wednesday morning

As of Thursday morning, other state and local media were not yet citing the Gazette article, which was posted at 1:20 a.m. Thursday.

Police say Arthur Miller was reported missing this morning. They say they received a telephone call but would not say who the caller was or where they were calling from.
Police also did not say how long Miller has been missing.

Miller’s wife confirmed that he is missing but declined further comment.

Arthur H. Miller

Yet another sex-related impropriety has surfaced at the University of Iowa. However the most recent one does not involve a student-athlete, rather a tenured political science professor.

Arthur H. Miller, 66, has been accused of demanding sexual favors from students in exchange for better grades the Press-Citizen reported. He was arrested on four counts of bribery, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and was released from jail early Saturday.

The complaints allege that Miller demanded four female students perform sexual favors, such as showing their breasts or allowing him to fondle them, in exchange for better grades in his class.

Moreover, Arthur was put on administrative leave while the UI Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEDD) continues to investigate complaints of sexual misconduct filed by the four students.

Upon receiving the initial complaint in May, OEOD immediately instructed Miller to have no contact with students while the investigation was ongoing. Miller does not teach summer sessions but will be placed on paid administrative leave effective the first day of the fall 2008 semester pursuant to university policy.

“Our primary focus right now is on ensuring the safety and security of our students and fully investigating these allegations, which we consider very serious,” UI Associate Provost Susan Johnson said in a statement.

The UI Department of Public Safety launched a separate investigation in mid-May and subsequently turned over its findings to the Johnson County Attorney’s Office, which prompted Arthur’s arrest last week.

Miller, who has been a faculty member at the UI since 1985, is best known for creating the Heartland Poll in 1988, a unique political opinion poll to gather data from seven Midwestern states during election years. The poll is conducted in election years by the Iowa Social Science Institute, which Miller directs.

News of the allegations came on the heels of the arrests in May and June of two Iowa Hawkeye football players accused of sexually assaulting another student-athlete. The UI’s handling of the case has come under fire by the Board of Regents and Gov. Chet Culver.