Oneonta’s Mayor Dead of Apparent Suicide

by Kristine Bellino WIBX

Oneonta Mayor Richard Miller is dead of what is being reported as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police were called to the residence of the 70-year old mayor at Maple Street in Oneonta shortly before 10:30 Saturday morning.

Police Chief Dennis Nayor is quoted by Oneonta's The Daily Star that Miller died of an apparent suicide.

The paper also quotes Otsego County Coroner James Hurley as saying that the cause of death was a shot to the head with a .22 caliber handgun.

He said the gun was registered

Few other details have been released pending further investigation.

Miller was first elected in 2009 and ran unopposed in 2013 for another term.

Miller was a previous president of Hartwick College and was vice chancellor and had been a chief operating officer of the State University of New York.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher issued a statement expressing her sadness at Miller's passing, calling him a champion of higher education.