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The warrant for the arrest of Sarah Lee Miller, also known as Sara Souder, was announced on her 35th birthday, May 8, court records show. Her last known address was in Nanticoke, Luzerne County. She was taken into custody later that day, and her preliminary arraignment was held before Magisterial District Judge John Bender, who set bail at $1 million on May 9, 2024. She's been held in the Lancaster County Prison.
Her father, John James DeHart, 56 of Camano Island, Washington State, was once an anti-crime activist in the Philadelphia area, as numerous outlets reported when he was first arrested in 2013, but since his conviction in 2015, he's been living in Philadelphia as a registered sex offender, according to the Pennsylvania State Police Megan's Law Sex Offender Registry. That's where he was arrested on new charges on April 18, 2024, and extradited to Lancaster County Prison where he remains on $1 million in bail as set by Magisterial District Judge Michael Hess.
DeHart and Miller were charged with the following offenses involving his grandchildren and her children when they were between the ages of 4 and 6 years old in 2011 through 2013 while they lived in a home in the 2200 block of Seitz Drive, East Hempfield Township, area police explained:
Felony Rape of Child (two counts).
Felony Statutory Sexual Assault (two counts).
Felony Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse With a Child (two counts).
Felony Incest (two counts).
Felony Indecent Assault Person Less than 13 Years of Age (three counts).
Felony Corruption Of Minors - Defendant Age 18 or Above.
Felony Endangering Welfare of Children - When Parent/Guardian/Other Commits Offense( two counts).
Misdemeanor Terroristic Threats With the Intent To Terrorize Another (only for DeHart).
Following one of the three victims's interviews with Manor Township Police, the East Hempfield Police were contacted about the alleged abuse by DeHart and Miller on Dec. 1, 2023.
According to the affidavits, the abuse by DeHart involved forcing the elementary school-aged child to participate in sexual encounters with the child's mom and grandfather. In one incident the child was forced to beat the naked mom with a wooden spoon, and another time the child was forced to get naked in the basement and DeHart threatened them with "a small gun" unless the child continued to comply, as explained in the court documents.
During some naked incidents and shower assaults, Miller, told the children involved that these things were "normal" and as one victim said "since this was their mother saying these things, they believed her," as quoted in the affidavit for Miller's case.
Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Lapp approved the charges for both cases and is prosecuting them.
Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact East Hempfield Township Police Department Detective Tyler Clisham at 717-898-3103 or click here to submit a tip online.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was updated following Miller's arrest.
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