Search for UI professor to resume Thursday

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By The Associated Press | Wednesday, August 20, 2008 |

Arthur Miller (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/University of Iowa)

UPDATED: (10:30 p.m.)

IOWA CITY — The search of a northeast Iowa City park for a missing University of Iowa political science professor ended tonight without result but will begin again Thursday morning, said Sgt. Sid Jackson of the Iowa City Police Department.

Police said Wednesday night that they were going into “search mode” in their efforts to find Arthur Miller, who is accused of asking to fondle female students in exchange for higher grades.

Police say Miller, 66, was reported missing Wednesday morning. Authorities used Miller’s cell phone to track his car to Hickory Hill Park.

Law enforcement officers from Iowa City, University of Iowa, Johnson County and the Iowa Department of Corrections arrived at the park, and police spent hours on a systematic search of the area.

Police have confirmed that Miller purchased a high-powered rifle in mid-June. He and the rifle were unaccounted for, and entrances to the park were roped off with yellow police tape.

“We’ll search bush by bush, really for a body at this point, a body and a rifle,” Iowa City Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said.

Police did not say how long Miller has been missing. Miller’s wife confirmed that he is missing but declined further comment.

Miller earned his Ph.D. in 1971 from the University of Michigan, according to the University of Iowa Web site. His research fields are American politics and comparative politics.

Miller was charged on Aug. 8 with four counts of accepting bribes. The alleged incidents occurred last spring. The charge is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Miller was released from jail and placed on paid administrative leave.

(Times reporter Thomas Geyer contributed to this story.)

EARLIER STORY: ( 7:08 p.m.) Police in “search mode” for missing UI prof

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Police said tonight that they were going into “search mode” in their efforts to find a missing University of Iowa professor accused of asking to fondle female students in exchange for higher grades.

Police say Arthur Miller was reported missing this morning. Authorities used Miller’s cell phone to track his car to the a local park.

Law enforcement officers from Iowa City, University of Iowa, Johnson County and the Iowa Department of Corrections arrived at the park, and police spent hours on a systematic search of the area.

Police have confirmed that Miller purchased a high-powered rifle in mid-June. He and the rifle were unaccounted for, and entrances to the park were roped off with yellow police tape.

“We’ll search bush by bush, really for a body at this point, a body and a rifle,” Iowa City Police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said.

Police did not say how long Miller has been missing. Miller’s wife confirmed that he is missing but declined further comment.

Miller was charged on Aug. 8 with four counts of accepting bribes. The alleged incidents occurred last spring. He was released from jail and placed on paid administrative leave.

EARLIER STORY: (5:31 p.m.) Police find missing professor’s car

IOWA CITY, Iowa— Police have found the car of a missing University of Iowa professor accused of asking to fondle female students in exchange for higher grades near an Iowa City park.

   Police say Arthur Miller was reported missing this morning. They say they received a telephone call but would not say who the caller was or where they were calling from.

   Authorities used Miller's cell phone to track his car to the park.

   Police have confirmed that Miller purchased a high-powered rifle in mid-June. He and the rifle were unaccounted for and entrances to the park were roped off with yellow police tape.

   Law enforcement officers from Iowa City, University of Iowa, Johnson County and the Iowa Department of Corrections are at the scene.

   Police did not say how long Miller has been missing. Miller's wife confirmed that he is missing but declined further comment.

   Miller was charged on Aug. 8 with four counts of accepting bribes. The alleged incidents occurred last spring.

   Miller was released from jail and placed on paid administrative leave.

EARLIER STORY: (10:00 a.m.) U of Iowa professor accused of fondling reported missing

IOWA CITY — A University of Iowa professor accused of asking to fondle female students in exchange for higher grades is missing.

Police say Arthur Miller was reported missing this morning. They say they received a telephone call but would not say who the caller was or where they were calling from.

Police also did not say how long Miller has been missing.

Miller’s wife confirmed that he is missing but declined further comment.

Miller was charged on Aug. 8 with four counts of accepting bribes. The alleged incidents occurred last spring.

Miller was released from jail and placed on paid administrative leave.