In 1973, or early 1974, George Wilhelm, (the murder victim) became interested in acquiring some land in North Carolina where he could mine for semi-precious stones. The land was owned by the federal government.
Miller had been involved in politics as a small time operative of sorts and would help out during campaigns doing errands and odd jobs for candidates. Miller somehow convinced Wilhelm that Miller had a special connection with then Senator Richard Schweiker. I learned from Miller’s testimony that Dedo posed as a man named Ken Manella who worked as an aide to Senator Schweiker. Two secret meetings took place in hotel rooms; one in Washington, D.C. and one in Washington, Pennsylvania. At both of these meetings Wilhelm gave several thousand dollars in cash to Dedo, believing he was Ken Manella. Miller was also present at these meetings. Miller testified at my trial that I was at meetings with Dedo and Miller in Pittsburgh. It turned out that I was out of town for my firm at the time.
After Wilhelm paid out a substantial amount of money, he obviously expected to receive a deed to the property in North Carolina. This did not happen and he became suspicious. While Wilhelm was at the Pittsburgh office of Senator Schweiker, he spoke to the real Ken Manella over the phone who worked in Schweiker’s Washington office as an aide. When Wilhelm asked the real Mr. Manella about the land deal Manella denied any knowledge of such a deal and had no idea what Wilhelm was talking about. As a result of this conversation between Wilhelm and the real Manella, the office of Senator Schweiker put Wilhelm in touch with the FBI in Pittsburgh.
At first, Wilhelm truthfully told the FBI about the land deal as he knew it to be at that time. Miller was drawn into the FBI investigation at this point also. Miller somehow convinced Wilhelm to withdraw his complaint to the FBI on the premise that this would undo the arrangement for Wilhelm to quietly buy the land through Senator Schweiker’s office. Wilhelm, on Miller’s prompting, then went back to the FBI and told them that the complaint was a hoax to embarrass Senator Schweiker. Interestingly, the FBI agent, Gary Boutwell, testified at my trial that he did not believe Wilhelm when the complaint was withdrawn. Boutwell continued to believe that Wilhelm had been defrauded. According to Boutwell’s testimony, the FBI only discontinued further investigation because the United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania issued a letter of declination. At this point the matter rested because Miller was able to placate Wilhelm until the killing in February, 1976.
Read more about The Arson…