Community Letter of Support for Justice for Tonea Nicole Miller

My name is Terri Miller, and I am the oldest and only sister of Tonea Nicole Miller.

I am writing this letter asking for your support, not because I want money or fame, but because I am a grieving sister searching for answers and justice for my baby sister. When it comes to the investigation of what happened to my sister, I believe that Miami Dade County has failed my sister, and I will not stop until justice is served. 

On June 18, 2026, my sister, Tonea Nicole Miller, was found hanging from a tree at Gwen Cherry Park in Miami, Florida. She was only 27 years old.

To many people she was known as Rose in Miami. To me, she was my baby sister. Our mother affectionately called her "Mouse" because she loved cheese. Tonea Nicole was the last child our mother brought into this world, and she loved her deeply.

Tonea was born in Flint, Michigan, but raised in Lansing. After our mother passed away on January 5, 2023, she returned to Florida to continue building a life for herself. She was independent. She worked to support herself. She loved going to the gym, making candles, creating body oils, learning new things, and bringing light into other people's lives. She had no children, had never been married, and despite everything life threw at her, she still found reasons to keep moving forward.

As her sister, I know who Tonea was.

I do not believe my sister took her own life.

I know there are people who may disagree with me, but I cannot ignore what I know about my sister, the unanswered questions that remain, and the concerns my family continues to have. I believe Tonea deserves JUSTICE, a full, transparent, and complete investigation into every fact surrounding her death. From the beginning, the lack of urgency, resources, and care shown in handling her case has left our family feeling abandoned. It sends a painful message about how Black women are too often treated when tragedy strikes, overlooked, unheard, and forgotten. My sister was more than a case number. She deserved to be fought for, and I will continue to fight for her.

The case was ruled a suicide within 24 hours of my sister's death, yet I have not even received the Medical Examiner's report. I have been told it could take two to six months before that report is available to my family. As her sister, I cannot understand how such a conclusion could be reached before we have access to the information needed to understand what happened to Tonea. I refuse to allow my sister's name, her life, or her legacy to be pushed aside as if they do not matter. She mattered. She deserves answers. She deserves dignity. And above all, she deserves justice.  I am simply asking for help in my pursuit of answers for Tonea.

This is bigger than one family.

This is about making sure every person is treated with dignity and every family has confidence that every possible question has been explored when a loved one dies under tragic circumstances.

Today, I am asking you to stand with me.

Whether you knew Tonea personally or have never met her, I ask that you stand beside my family in calling for transparency, accountability, and a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding her death.

Your signature does not mean you have all the answers.

It means you believe every life matters.

It means you believe every family deserves answers.

It means you believe no family should be left wondering whether everything possible was done to uncover the truth.

I will never stop speaking my sister's name.

I will never stop fighting for her.

With gratitude,

Terri Miller
Oldest Sister of Tonea Nicole Miller