"He would park that outside during the car show part of Phoenix Comic-Con, or Fan Fusion, or whatever they call that now."ĭuring the trial, the court heard that Miller wrote on Facebook in 2014 building the "completely insane" vehicle had made him "a little less invisible to the world."įorensic psychologist Dr. "It became pretty well known," Syfritt said.
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Syfritt said he had helped Miller with other aspects of the character, giving him advice on how to get his prescription lenses into the helmet he wore and how to work on his car, which became renowned in the Phoenix subculture. The character was an insurance agent." Expert witness: Costume compensated for other issues "That’s the only reason that this gun was around. "It’s supposed to push out this star-shaped projectile that basically pushes somebody back, just to protect themselves," Syfritt said. "Something I would like to point out is that this particular weapon, in the cartoon it was originally designed for, is a non-lethal weapon," Syfritt said. Some time later, he said, he traded it to a woman for an "awesome coat." She passed it on to Miller's ex-girlfriend, which is how it became part of the Zombie Hunter costume. He initially made it for his child ahead of a trip to San Diego Comic-Con, Syfritt said, constructing it out of cardboard tubes, a piece of plywood and PVC pipes. Syfritt said he had created the fake gun Miller carried as part of the costume. "The car that he built was basically to mow down zombies." "He built this persona around the survivalist, surviving a zombie apocalypse," Syfritt said. “He got really into the Zombie Hunter roleplay," Syfritt said, explaining that the character Miller dressed up as was inspired by the "Resident Evil" film and video game franchise. Miller and his daughter also attended a couple of "build days" at Syfritt's home, where people would gather to create Steampunk-style weapons to go with their costumes and characters. Syfritt said he and Miller were both heavily involved in the community and saw each other frequently at events.
Mike Syfritt testified Wednesday that he knew Miller through the Arizona Steampunk Society from around 2010 to 2014.īefore Syfritt's testimony, the court watched a 10-minute video explaining Steampunk, a subculture that involves creating and dressing up in costumes inspired by a blend of historic 19th-century and futuristic technology. The defense has put a number of people from Miller's past on the stand, ranging from childhood neighbors to a one-time Little League coach to a friend from high school to people who knew Miller as an adult. Steampunk interests led to Zombie Hunter costume He pleaded not guilty for reasons of insanity, but was found guilty of first degree murder, kidnapping and attempted sexual assault in relation to each victim by Judge Suzanne Cohen after a six-month-long bench trial.Ĭohen must now decide whether Miller should be sentenced to death or life in prison. The case ran cold for two decades before Miller was arrested in 2015, following a forensic breakthrough in which detectives matched his DNA to samples at the crime scenes. Both young women were stabbed fatally in the back before being mutilated and sexually assaulted as or after they died. The brutal murders of the two young women, randomly attacked as they cycled along Phoenix canals, shocked the city when they occurred 30 years ago. Now Miller is facing the prospect of a death sentence, after being convicted last month of murdering Angela Brosso in 1992 and Melanie Bernas in 1993. He would attend comic conventions and other fandom-related events as the Zombie Hunter, building a reputation within the tight-knit costuming community.
The story behind Bryan Miller's notorious "Zombie Hunter" persona surfaced in court Wednesday, as Miller's attorneys fight to spare the convicted double murderer from the death penalty.īefore his arrest in 2015, Miller would regularly dress up as the character, appearing at events around Phoenix in his signature helmet, mask and goggles, carrying a large fake gun and driving his modified police car spattered with faux blood.
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