LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Middletown man who was arrested for shooting his daughter to death made his first court appearance in the case on Friday.

Steven Russell Miller, 39, is charged with killing his daughter, 20-year-old Hannah Welch, on Tuesday night.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said Miller was arraigned in Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport on Friday.

Hinchcliff has charged Miller with murder and use and discharge of a gun causing great bodily injury in the killing of his daughter, and brandishing a firearm at his mother, who was the witness and the reporting party in the case.

At the Friday arraignment, Hinchcliff said Miller’s bail was raised from the original $1 million to $2 million.

Andrea Sullivan, one of the partners in the firm that now heads up the county’s indigent defense contract, was assigned to represent Miller, Hinchcliff said.

Hinchcliff said Miller is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, June 6, for appearance of counsel and entry of plea.

At this early stage in the case, investigators are still working to find out key aspects of the shooting, including the motive, Hinchcliff said.

The shooting occurred at a home in the 18000 block of Spyglass Road in Hidden Valley Lake where Miller was reported to live, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

Paulich said sheriff’s deputies had responded to that address on three prior occasions – in 2007, 2008 and in 2009 – because of reported problems with Miller.

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