Woman says former firefighter sexually abused her, fears he will avoid punishment
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — FOX4 spoke with a woman who said she's worried that a former metro firefighter will avoid punishment after she said he sexually assaulted her as a child.
FOX4 has agreed to protect her identity.
Independence police chief on leave, fires back at 'baseless rumors' in FOX4 interview
The former metro firefighter, who has been hailed a hero, is charged with criminal sodomy. There was a hearing for him Thursday in Johnson County, but not much happened.
The unidentified woman said she is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse at the hands of Trevor Miller.
The City of Overland Park and the Overland Park Fire Department (OPFD) are aware of an investigation into a former OPFD employee.
'As soon as the city became aware of the allegations, the former employee was placed on administrative leave,' a spokesperson with the OPFD told FOX4. 'Within a week of being placed on leave, the employee submitted his intention to retire immediately.
'He is no longer an employee of the city or the fire department. The city and Fire department are fully cooperating with the Johnson County Sheriff's Office investigation.'
Miller was employed with the city from 1990 to 2023.
'He should be held more accountable for what he's done,' she said. 'For me, personally, growing up, I looked to him as a hero. He's a firefighter for the city. He saves lives.'
Miller has been charged with one count of criminal sodomy, from an incident that happened when she was 14. The charge was filed in 2024.
'I knew Trevor growing up as my mother's friend. I saw him occasionally,' she told FOX4.
The incident, which occurred in 2012, was reported to law enforcement in October of 2023.
At that time, she said Miller was an adult she thought she could confide in.
'In the summer of 2012, I ended up meeting up with him,' she said. 'He took me out to look at Harleys. He taught me how to pump my gas, and he took me to his house and did inappropriate things to me and took me home.'
She said she's worried that Miller may get offered a plea agreement – instead of being held accountable for what he's done.
Miller has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The case was continued Thursday.
The City of Overland Park's website still highlights his efforts to bring a 9/11 memorial to town.
'I don't think he is someone to be looked to as a respectable, trusted member of the community,' she said.
'People should know he's a monster.'
Court documents also show that Miller was involved with the 'Camp Inferno' program, which introduced girls to firefighting—and 'he had to be reminded he wasn't there for socializing.'
Records show he exchanged information with campers.
'I would definitely say there was grooming. I would definitely say there was sexual abuse,' she said.
'I do encourage people to come forward, but I definitely understand why many don't.'
She told FOX4 that she remained silent until 2023, but was driven by two factors to speak out:
Having a child of her own
The birth of Miller's daughter
FOX4 made several attempts to contact Miller's attorney by phone and email; neither inquiry was returned.
FOX4 also reached out to the Johnson County District Attorney, who did not comment on the case.
Miller has another hearing scheduled for mid-July.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
an hour ago
Searchers recover 2nd body near Canada's Banff National Park hiking trail
CALGARY, Alberta -- Search teams located a second body Friday following a massive rockfall off a hiking trail in Canada's Banff National Park. The University of Alberta confirmed one of the two people killed in the rockfall in Banff National Park was retired educator Jutta Hinrichs, who was a leader in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Parks Canada officials say she was 70 and lived in Calgary. The slide happened Thursday afternoon north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) northwest of Calgary. It is also about 137 kilometers (85 miles) from the site of the Group of Seven summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, this week. Three others were taken to the hospital and were reported in stable condition. Officials said no one else has been reported missing and there are no unidentified vehicles at the trailhead. The route rus along the edges of Bow Lake and is considered a moderate challenge for hikers and is used by tourists and day-trippers, including families. It's a region with limited cellular service. Niclas Brundell, a trail guide who lives in nearby Canmore, said he was hiking in the area with his wife Thursday when they both started seeing concerning signs of rocks tumbling and boulders the size of tires starting to fall. 'This was unimaginable to me, that such a big piece of mountain would fall off,' he said. As rocks started rolling at the top of the waterfall, he said, they didn't hit anyone, but he and his wife wondered why nobody seemed to be reacting. 'Then all of a sudden, I hear the start of another rockfall, and I turn around, and the whole mountainside is coming off.' He said the slab seemed about 50 meters (164 feet) wide and 20 meters (60 feet) deep, and he and his wife started sprinting. When he turned around, he could see a group of between 15 and 30 people at the waterfall disappear under a cloud of dust. 'The only place I've ever seen something similar is like watching videos from 9-11, when you see New York being cast over,' he said. He said there was a roar, 'and I just didn't see them anymore.' Brundell said when they got far enough to feel safe, he sent a satellite message to Parks Canada, while his wife ran to a nearby lodge to call for help. He said it's a popular trail because it's considered relatively easy, and on any given summer day there are 15 people or more hiking the trail.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Alleged Jew hater arrested for trying to run Rep. Max Miller off road while showing Palestinian flag and using slurs
Ohio police have arrested a man for allegedly attempting to run Republican Rep. Max Miller off the road Thursday while using anti-Jewish slurs and flying a Palestinian flag. Miller, 36, said in a video posted to X that an 'unhinged, deranged man decided to lay on his horn and run me off the road when he couldn't get my attention to show me a Palestinian flag.' Feras S. Hamdan, also 36, was arrested and charged with aggravated menacing following an investigation, the Rocky River, Ohio, police department said in a Friday press release. 3 Rep. Max Miller says he was the victim of an anti-Jewish road incident Thursday. AP 3 Feras Hamdan was arrested after police investigated. A police report says Miller accused Hamdan of calling him a 'dirty Jew.' 'Congressman Miller reported he was driving on Interstate 90 [around 9:30 a.m. Thursday] when the suspect threatened him and his family along with making antisemitic slurs,' the department said. '[T]he second party to the road rage incident was identified as [Hamdan] from Westlake… Hamdan voluntarily turned himself in at the Rocky River Police Department, with counsel, and is awaiting a court appearance.' 3 Miller says Hamdan called him a 'dirty Jew.' X/@MaxMillerOH The First Amendment generally protects Americans' use of religious and racial slurs, but when used in the commission of a crime can result in hate-crime designations for enhanced punishment. It was not immediately clear if Hamdan will face more stringent prosecution as a result. Miller, who represents and area south of Cleveland, is one of four Jewish House Republicans and worked in President Trump's first administration as an advance and personnel office aide.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Suspect accused of running Jewish GOP congressman off the road in ‘blatant antisemitic violence' arrested
A northeast Ohio man was arrested Thursday on allegations that he threatened and spewed antisemitic epithets at Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller while the two were traveling on an interstate highway near Cleveland. Police in Rocky River said Feras S. Hamdan, 36, of Westlake, voluntarily turned himself in with counsel present and is awaiting an appearance in municipal court. A message was left with his lawyer seeking comment. Miller, who is Jewish, called 911 while driving on Interstate 90 on his way to work Thursday. He reported that another driver was cutting him off, making profane hand gestures, showing a Palestinian flag and shouting death threats targeted at him and his 1-year-old daughter. 4 Feras S. Hamdan, 36, of Westlake, voluntarily turned himself in with counsel present after allegations that he threatened and spewed antisemitic epithets at Republican U.S. Rep. Max Miller. Rocky River Police Department 4 Miller, who is Jewish, called 911 while driving on Interstate 90. X/@MaxMillerOH 4 Miller said that a driver was cutting him off, making profane hand gestures, showing a Palestinian flag and shouting death threats at him and his daughter. 4 Miller discussed the incident on social media. X/@MaxMillerOH After an interview with police, Miller filed a complaint against Hamdan alleging aggravated menacing and sought a criminal protective order. Local police continue to investigate with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Attorney's office and the Rocky River prosecutor. The Ohio Jewish Caucus praised Rocky River police and extended their thoughts to Miller and his family, noting the incident followed by just days the politically motivated shootings in Minnesota, which left two people dead and two others injured. 'Enough is enough,' the all-Democratic legislative alliance said in a statement. 'There is no place for this type of violence — whether it be political, antisemitic, or ideological — whatsoever. We believe we can solve our differences with humility, not hatred.'
