A man in Oklahoma is facing the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of horrific crimes against his two young stepchildren. The abuse, which lasted for years, included beatings, torture, and neglect. He even killed one of the children and tried to cover it up by burning the body. The other child was left severely malnourished and scarred for life.
On Thursday, Tulsa County District Judge Clifford P. Smith sentenced John L. Miles III to seven consecutive life terms in prison, one of which will not allow for parole, plus an additional 55 years. This devastating case involved the deaths and abuse of Orlando Hugger Jr. and his older sister, crimes that shocked the community and left law enforcement and prosecutors deeply shaken.
Back in October 2024, a jury found Miles guilty of numerous charges, including first-degree murder by child abuse, child abuse by torture, child neglect, sexual abuse, and even desecration of a human body.
Orlando’s mother, Camille Rechae Lewis, also played a role in these terrible crimes. She pleaded guilty last year to child abuse, neglect, second-degree murder, and desecrating a corpse. In exchange for her testimony against Miles, she received a life sentence but has a chance at parole after 35 years.
Prosecutors described the case as one of the most horrifying they’d ever encountered. Amy Dickens, Assistant District Attorney for Tulsa County, said the crimes committed against these children were beyond comprehension. “This is the most horrific and gruesome case I have seen in my career as a prosecutor,” she said. “The torture, abuse, and neglect these children faced day after day is abhorrent. While we can’t bring back Orlando, this sentencing is a step toward justice.”
The horrifying story came to light on January 27, 2023, when the children’s grandmother contacted the police in Tulsa. She reported that her grandson had been missing for years and suspected he was dead. She also revealed that her granddaughter, who had been left in her care months earlier, was a victim of severe sexual and physical abuse.
The 13-year-old girl, who had been living with her grandmother since September 2022, was described as “skin and bones” due to malnourishment. She later told investigators about the unimaginable abuse she and her younger brother endured. According to her, her mother and stepfather would lock her and her brother in separate closets for days, often without food, and beat them with belts and cords. At times, the children were forced to sleep in a doghouse outside, even in freezing weather.
The girl also revealed that her stepfather would offer her food in exchange for sexual favors and that her mother told her about her brother’s tragic death. In March 2021, Orlando had a seizure and died. His mother reportedly didn’t take him to a hospital because she feared getting into trouble.
Miles later buried Orlando’s body in a park with the help of a cousin. Not long after, they dug it up, burned it in a barrel, and scattered the ashes in a drainage system.
When police arrested Camille Lewis in February 2023, she initially claimed that her son had run away. Later, she admitted that Orlando had died in her arms and confessed to abusing her children.
After the trial, Tulsa County Assistant District Attorney John Tjeerdsma expressed gratitude to the jury and law enforcement for their work in holding Miles accountable. “This crime came from a place of pure evil,” he said. “We’re relieved justice has been served.”
The case has left an indelible mark on Tulsa, Oklahoma, highlighting unimaginable cruelty and the resilience of one young survivor. While no punishment can undo the harm caused, the sentences handed down aim to ensure that these crimes will never be repeated.
