UPDATE: Man and woman charged in murder of Pocatello man
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POCATELLO — Two have been charged in connection to a May shooting death.
In a press conference Tuesday morning officials announce that Michael Angelo Miera, 26, has been charged with first-degree murder while his alleged cousin and girlfriend, Janeal Elizabeth Miera, 19, has been charged with principal to first-degree murder. A weapons enhancement charge was also filed against Michael.
The charges are in connection with the shooting death of Brandon James Lenker, 36, of Pocatello.
“We have been working on this case or quite a while,” Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said during Tuesday’s press conference. “After looking at evidence and several interviews we were able to narrow it down too two suspects.”
Lenker’s body was found on the Fort Hall reservation after a person living near Rapid Creek Road north of Inkom contacted authorities stating they discovered a body in the area.
An autopsy was performed and it was discovered Lenker had been shot in the head.
Bannock County Prosecutor Stephen Herzog said his office has not yet decided if the county will pursue the death penalty in Michael Miera’s case.
The Mieras have been incarcerated in the Bannock County Detention Center since May 16 following a multi-agency pursuit, that lead officers through Bannock County and the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Police said during that pursuit, as a Fort Hall police officer laid out a set of spike strips Michael Miera intentionally turned into the officer, striking him and causing arm and leg injuries.
The officer, Kelly Taufer, was released from Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello several days later.
The pursuit ended with Michael and Janeal arrest after a Bannock County sheriff’s deputy used a PIT maneuver on the pickup, causing it to leave a dirt road and roll multiple times.
At the time Michael, also a registered sex offender, had three outstanding warrants and was wanted by police for questioning in the theft of a Toyota FJ Cruiser that had been stolen from 1800 Flandro Drive on April 27. The SUV was later found in the Portneuf River south of Pocatello. Concerning the pursuit, Michael was charged with felony eluding and aggravated battery.
Lenker also was a suspect in the theft of the vehicle.
Janeal, the passenger in the pickup, also had two outstanding warrants.
The motive behind the murder is unclear. All court documents including the criminal complaint are unavailable because the Bannock County Prosecutor’s office has chosen to keep them sealed.
Both were arraigned in court Tuesday in Bannock County. Michael will remain in custody on a $1 million bond while Janeal is held on a $250,000 bond.
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