Man charged with killing Fife couple in their home in apparent drug-related dispute

TACOMA -- A man was charged Monday with two counts of murder in the shooting deaths of Daniel Miller, 23, and his fiance, Charissa Dobbins, 22, in their Fife home last week in what the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office called apparent drug-related violence.

Brett Ashdon Dollens, 22, pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered held in the Pierce County Jail in lieu of $2 million bail.

Last Thursday, a man called 911 to report that he found two of his friends dead inside their home. Pierce County sheriff’s deputies arrived and found both victims in the living room with gunshot wounds to the head.

Dobbins was a mother and now her 2-year-old son will have to grow up without her.

The friend told deputies that Miller was a heroin dealer and had recently accused Dollens of stealing drugs from him, the prosecutor's office said. Another witness told detectives that Dollens had spoken about robbing Miller and explained that he would use a revolver because it would not leave shell casings behind, the prosecutor's office said.

Detectives located Dollens later that night. He told them that he went to Miller’s home earlier that day to settle his dispute with Miller. Dollens told the detectives that he physically fought with Miller and the gun went off during the struggle, the prosecutor's office said.

However, according to the medical examiner, Miller and Dobbins died from gunshot wounds to the head, fired at close range. Neither victim suffered defensive wounds.



 

Daniel’s brother, Kyl,e said his brother struggled with heroin addiction for years.

“It’s a good lesson to understand,” said Pierce County Sheriff’s Department detective Ed Troyer. “If you’re going to hang out in that world, things can go sideways pretty quick.”

Troyer added that Charissa likely had nothing to do with the drug deal, and was only in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“She shouldn’t have been there, it shouldn’t have happened,” said Kyle Miller.

Now Charissa’s 2-year-old son will grow up without her, and Kyle Miller wants everyone to know the dangers of drugs and addiction.

“Nobody should have to go through this,” said Kyle. “A lot of people tried to help him (Daniel) but he just doesn’t want to take help.”