MILWAUKEE (Court TV) — A Wisconsin judge ordered the case against a woman accused of fatally shooting a 26-year-old pharmacy student after the two smoked marijuana to move forward.
Commissioner Susan Roth ruled there was enough evidence to suspect Jamica Mills, 31, committed the crimes of which she is accused, first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon in the death of Ariel Spillner.
Jamica Mills (L) is charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the death of her friend, Ariel Spillner (R). (Milwaukee County Jail, Scripps News Milwaukee)
A detective testified in Wednesday’s hearing that officers showed up at Mills’ residence on Nov. 4, 2025 in response to reports of a shooting. They found Mills lying unclothed on the floor with a gunshot wound to her stomach, Det. Zachary Cvetan testified. Spillner was also found inside the home near a couch with an apparent gunshot wound to her left shoulder, Cvetan said.
The detective said Mills had trouble recalling the incident, but shared an account when pressed to “tell the truth.” Mills said she had known Spillner for about a year, and the two had gone to a liquor store before returning to Mills’ home to smoke marijuana, Det. Cvetan testified.
Mills allegedly said the two became “paranoid” and Spillner began pacing the room in search of shears to cut a dog’s hair, according to the detective.
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Mills “became paranoid that she was going to be stabbed,” the detective testified, so she went to a bedroom and retrieved a .380 semiautomatic handgun “in response to the scissor situation.”
Mills allegedly said she opened fire after Spillner made a gesture toward her, then turned the gun on herself, shooting herself in the stomach, the detective testified.
“Did she indicate if Ariel made threats to harm her?” prosecutor Ian Vance-Curzan asked the detective. “She did not,” Cvetan responded.
Inside the home, investigators found what appeared to be Mills’ shirt bearing a “charred” hole in it consistent with a close range gunshot, the detective testified. No such residue or markings were found on Spillner’s clothing, the detective said in response to a question from Mills’ lawyer. The detective also said no shears were found in the home.
Roth set Mills’ next court appearance for arraignment on Jan. 9, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
If convicted of first-degree reckless homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon, Mills faces up to 65 years in prison.
This story was generated with the assistance of AI using information gathered and verified by Emanuella Grinberg. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy before publication.
