Two young Missouri mothers killed by alleged rapist

Britny Haarup, 19 (two left photos) and Ashley Key, 22 (two right photos) were allegedly murdered by man high on drugs who attempted to rape the younger woman. The man police believe is responsible, Clifford Miller, 31, is now in police custody. Photo via Platte County Sheriff’s Office.

A man was arrested Monday after police say Clifford D. Miller, 31, admitted to breaking and entering the home of Britny Haarup, 19, and killing her before attempting to rape her and killing Haarup’s sister Ashley Key, 22. Both women were mother’s to young daughters.

The women had been missing since Friday from their home in Platte County, Missouri. Haarup lived in the home with her 5-month-old daughter and 18-month-old daughter as well as her fiance, Matt Meyers. Harrup’s sister, Ashley, had recently moved in with the couple after what her father described as an effort to turn her life around and distance herself from a bad crowd she was reportedly hanging around. Ashley also has an infant daughter who was not with her at the time of the murders.

The women’s bodies were reportedly removed from the home by their killer and disposed of. The women’s bodies were found two days later in a nearby field.

Miller was an acquaintance of Haarup’s and admitted to police that he went to the home late Friday night, high on methamphetamines, with the intention of raping Haarup whom he says he had a sexual attraction towards. According to the Kansas City Star, the pair never dated and Haarup never showed an interest in Miller who’s fiance reported the women missing when he came home and found blood in the house and Haarups two daughters home alone.

It is not yet clear how Haarup and Miller knew each other.

Miller reportedly told police that he walked into the unlocked home and bludgeoned Ashley to death, who was sleeping on the couch. He then went into Haarup’s bedroom and also started bludgeoning her. After her murder, he reportedly put her toddler daughter in the same crib as her infant daughter and proceeded to try to rape Haarup but claims he was unsuccessful. He reportedly used Haarup’s pick up truck to then dispose of the bodies.

The women’s father, Paul Haarup, said this about his daughters during a recent press conference:

“My daughters were very wonderful people, their short lives aren’t going to be forgotten.” He pledged that his granddaughters would be told about their mothers and went onto say, “They’re never going to have a chance to see their mother’s smiles.”

Miller has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.