rson case and get something off his chest.

According to Miller, Elmore identified Clyde Hedrick and Laura Miller as the subjects of that conversation.

Miller said he was initially skeptical because he had received countless false leads over the years. Hedrick had also been publicly identified as a possible suspect.

But Miller testified that Elmore began directing him to locations and describing details he believed were not publicly known.

He said Elmore pointed out Hedrick's former Dickinson home, which was located two houses away from a home where the Miller family had previously lived. Miller said Elmore also identified an area near a cemetery where Laura used to spend time.

 Nobody knew Laura hung out at the cemetery,  Miller testified.  I knew then that, hey, this guy's real. 

Miller describes Elmore's alleged account of Laura's death

Miller testified that Elmore eventually described being present inside Hedrick's home on the night Laura died.

According to Miller, Elmore said the group had been using drugs and that Elmore mixed cocaine in a syringe before injecting himself.

Miller testified that Elmore said Hedrick then asked him to prepare another syringe.

 He said he mixed up another rig. He handed it to Clyde,  Miller testified.

According to Miller, Elmore claimed he warned Hedrick not to use it. Miller said Elmore told him Hedrick injected Laura.

 Mr. Elmore said he'd seen Laura shaking and shaking, laying back down, taking her last breath,  Miller testified.  I said,  My God, what did he do next?' 

Miller said Elmore told him Hedrick then covered Laura with a Western-style shirt.

A shirt was found near Laura's remains. Miller testified that Elmore described the shirt and later recognized it in a photograph.

Miller said Elmore first described Laura's death and implicated himself before learning about a $25,000 reward.

Detective says information matched investigation

A Dickinson detective testified that some information attributed to Elmore matched details uncovered through her investigation.

That included information about a Western-style shirt, Hedrick's home and the death of Audrey Cook, whose remains were found near Laura's.

The detective testified that Elmore described Cook being shot in the back with a .22-caliber weapon after rejecting Hedrick's sexual advances. Cook's autopsy showed she had been shot in the lower back with a .22-caliber round.

The detective also testified that information Elmore provided about another missing woman and a trip to Louisiana was supported by an interview with that woman's son.

Investigators believed Hedrick killed Laura, Cook and other women. The detective testified that authorities were preparing to seek indictments against Hedrick in four killings.

She confronted Hedrick at a Houston hospital in March 2026 and told him she intended to return with an indictment. The detective testified that Hedrick died by suicide the following morning, before he could be charged.

Defense focused on nearly $33,000 paid to Elmore

Elmore's defense raised questions about the credibility of the information he provided and the money he received from Miller.

Miller acknowledged paying Elmore nearly $33,000 over several years.

He testified that $25,000 was reward money. Miller said he provided approximately $8,000 more because Elmore was experiencing financial and medical problems and because Miller wanted to keep him close as a potential source of information about other missing women.

 He was the last person standing that knew anything,  Miller testified.  Any father would have done what I did. 

The defense also pointed to an interview in which Elmore appeared to say he met Hedrick in 1991-seven years after Laura disappeared.

The detective testified that other evidence and witnesses placed the two men together before 1991.

Miller denied paying Elmore to fabricate a story. He repeatedly emphasized that Elmore had already described Laura's death and his alleged involvement before receiving any money.

Miller told the jury he believes Elmore bears responsibility because he prepared the cocaine and gave the syringe to Hedrick.

 Mr. Elmore, you handed it to Clyde Hedrick,  Miller testified.  You handed it. 

Elmore faces up to 20 years in prison.

Punishment phase of the trial will being on Thursday.