What happened in the hours leading up to Antavis Miller’s death? That’s what his loved ones are asking. Antavis’ family members have identified their son, cousin, boyfriend, father, and brother, as the inmate who Gadsden County Jail Officials say was found dead on Sunday, August 1. Miller was incarcerated in the Gadsden County Jail for a violation of probation after being convicted of domestic battery in November 2019 and trespassing in January 2020. Miller was originally sentenced to seven months of time served in jail, and probation by Judge Kathy Gardner. He violated his probation when he was arrested on charges of battery in Leon County in March of this year. Cynthia Miller, Antavis' first cousin, was one of the first members of Antavis’ family to learn of his death - but Miller said the initial news did not come from jail officials, but from other inmates at the Gadsden County Jail, who reached out to inform the Miller family of Antavis’ death. Cynthia Miller said she and other family members called the jail to find out if the information they were hearing was true. She says the jail’s administrator, Colonel Robert Barkley told them he would come speak with the family in person, and Cynthia Miller said that when Colonel Barkley arrived at her house, he told them Antavis had hung himself with a sheet. Antavis Miller “He said Antavis was found hanging from a showerhead in a holding cell,” Miller said. “If he hung himself and they can prove it, then I can deal with that.” Miller said Colonel Barkley told her and the rest of the Miller family that Antavis was on suicide watch, but that has left the family with other questions. Why was Antavis Miller given a sheet, Cynthia said the family wants to know, if he was being observed for suicide watch? Cynthia said after Miller’s death, inmates began reaching out to members of the family and Antavis Miller’s girlfriend, detailing what they saw and knew. Cynthia said they received the following statement from an inmate in the Gadsden County Jail: Saturday, July 31. 8 a.m.- 9 a.m.: Antavis was taken out of his cell in A-Pod 11:15 a.m.: Antavis was returned to his cell in A-Pod 1:30 p.m.: Antavis kicked the cell door in an attempt to get the attention of personnel 4 p.m.: Antavis said he had an emergency 7 p.m.: Shift changed Sunday, August 1 12:30 - 1 a.m.: Miller called an officer to the door and when the officer opened the door, Miller pushed past the officer and ran to the sergeant up front. Cynthia said the inmate signed the statement, stating “I am a witness.” While reminiscing about spending the time they spent at their grandmother’s house growing up, Cynthia said she and Antavis were very close. “We were more like siblings,” Cynthia said with a laugh, adding she remembers her cousin as a man who was very family oriented and liked to laugh and have fun. “He loved his family, and he loved that girlfriend of his,” Cynthia added. Chambrea Fain, Antavis’ girlfriend, said she last talked to her boyfriend on the Saturday night before his death. “The last time I talked to Antavis was on July 31 at 9:17 p.m.,” Fain said. “He didn’t call me off the jailhouse phone; he called me off an inmate phone because the jail wouldn’t let him use the phone.” Chambrea said Antavis was a good person who loved his son, liked to have fun, and liked to dance and listen to music. She said he also loved to make his family laugh. “Antavis would never kill himself, he loved me and his family too much,” Fain added. Fain is pregnant with their second child, and due in October. “His last words to me was ‘I love y'all’ and ‘I’m ready to come home to y'all,'” Fain said. Fain said inmates have reached out to her as well. According to Fain, reports from other inmates at the prison have differed greatly from the report the family has received from the jail officials. “They said they dragged him out of the cell and they feared for their lives,” said Fain. “[They said] that Antavis fought with two officers before his death.” Antavis’ aunt, Melissa Miller also talked to him the day before his death around 1 or 2 p.m. She said he usually calls her throughout the day, beginning early in the morning, but he didn’t call her at all on Sunday. She said Antavis asked her to call the jail and tell them “It’s a life or death situation.” “He said, ‘Auntie I was beating on the cell for about an hour and they’re not coming to check on me,’” Melissa shared. “He said, ‘They don’t know what’s happening to me.’” Melissa said she could tell something was wrong, so she called the jail and asked an officer if there was a possibility drugs could have gotten into the facility. She said she thought it was a possibility he had taken something. Melissa said when the officer realized Antavis was also on the phone, the guard said, “Oh shoot,” and hung up. Melissa said Barkley allowed her to view the “clean-up cell” where Antavis was found hanging, but she still doesn’t believe he was physically capable of hanging himself. She said a guard’s station is located directly in front of the cell. “When I entered the cell, straight ahead on the left there was a small showerhead,” Melissa noted. She said there was nothing else in the cell, but a small bench attached to the wall in the back, right side of the cell near the entrance. Melissa said she was also given copies of the officer’s statements, and incident report from when Antavis’ body was found. “It said his knees were bent, not touching the floor,” Melissa said. “How does a person’s knees remain bent after hanging themself?” she asked. Melissa said Antavis had a history of mental illness, and that Colonel Barkley had told her that Antavis requested to be in the cell. She also said Sheriff Morris Young told her the surveillance footage had been turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and that she will be able to view it when it’s back in the Gadsden County Jail’s possession. “Sheriff Young has been straightforward and honest with me,” Melissa said. However, Melissa also said the family didn’t start getting answers from jail officials until they began protesting. Melissa said Sheriff Young told her Antavis should have been in a mental health facility, not in jail. “He said he doesn’t want anyone else falling through the cracks,” Melissa said. Jessica Cary, a public relations officer for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said she doesn’t know how long the investigation into Antavis’ death may take. She said the department looks at many different factors, and only investigates deaths with unnatural causes. She said once the department completes its investigation, the findings are turned over to the state attorney, who will make the final decision. Antavis Miller’s funeral service will be held on Sunday, August 15 at 3 p.m., at the Mount Zion Cemetery in Havana. Erin Hill - Gadsden County News Service
