News : David Miller charged with murder in death of Sabrina Hustad

Sabrina Janish, left, always had a smile, said her close friend Jami Sprague-Lewis, right.

David Miller: Charged with first degree murder in death of Sabrina Hustad.

The day before she died, Sabrina Hustad Janish spoke on the phone to her friend, Jami Sprague-Lewis, and told her she was thinking of leaving her boyfriend, David Miller.

“She told me she was tired of loving people who don’t love her back,” said Sprague-Lewis.

The next day, Oct. 25, Sprague-Lewis heard the awful news: Sabrina had been murdered.

After a five-month investigation, Miller has charged with murdering Janish near his mobile home north of Shellsburg.

The Iowa Department of Criminal investigation released the following information this morning:

On March 24, 2016, the Benton County Sheriff's Office, In conjunction with the Iowa Department of Public Safety's (DPS) Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), secured an arrest warrant for Murder in the First Degree for David Charles Miller, age 32.

Miller has been arrested for his role in the October 25, 2015 death of Sabrina Hustad Janish.

On October 25, 2015, the victim was found deceased when Benton County Deputies arrived at Miller's residence, 3257 59th Street Trail Lot #4 Shellsburg.

On October 26, 2015, the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy on the body of Sabrina Hustad. Dr. Michele Catellier performed the autopsy and determined the cause of Hustad's death to be multiple stab wounds with strangulation. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide.

Murder in the First Degree, (Iowa State Criminal code 707.2) is classified as a Class "A" felony and if convicted carries a mandatory life imprisonment. David Miller has been housed at the Benton County jail since October 25, 2015 on a no bond hold Parole Violation and for Operating a Motor Vehicle without Owner's Consent (Iowa State Criminal code 714.7)

Benton County Attorney Dave Thompson had said that investigators were waiting for the DCI crime lab to finish its analysis of forensic evidence before proceeding to charge a suspect for the murder.

Remembering victim's smile, personality

Friends remember Janish's laughter and how she overcame many adversities with a smile.

"She had an amazing personality," says Sprague-Lewis, whom Janish referred to as "Mom."

"Even though she had it rough, she always had a smile on her face," said Sprague-Lewis. "She could make light of anything."

“Sabrina was one of the most caring and giving people I know – and for having nothing, that girl gave a lot,” she said.

Janish, says her friend, loved to celebrate special occasions, and she loved bargains.

“One day, she pulled up in a truck full of fake flowers and Christmas wreaths, which still had the tags on,” Sprague-Lewis recalled. She had retrieved them from the trash at a craft store, but were still in brand-new condition.

Janish replied, “Well Mom, I figured I could put them in your basement,” recalls her friend.