Mark Miles Obituary, Death; – A 13-year-old boy from Anderson has been charged as an adult in connection with the murder of 61-year-old Mark Miles. Miles was fatally stabbed on October 3, 2024, in the 900 block of West 12th Street, near Madison Avenue in Anderson.
Authorities identified Joseph VanNote as the suspect after his mother reported that he had unexpectedly acquired hundreds of dollars. On October 11, 2024, prosecutors formally charged VanNote with murder, and on January 27, 2025, he was transferred to adult court. He is currently being held without bond at the Madison County Jail.
A hearing to establish his trial date is set for April 25, 2025, and he has been assigned a public defender. The police were alerted by a friend of Miles, who went to check on him and discovered him lying on his back in a pool of blood. Upon their arrival, officers found a bloody kitchen knife in close proximity.
Simultaneously, a man approached an officer to report that a group of individuals had given him a wallet. Upon inspection, it was determined that the wallet belonged to Miles. The coroner’s examination revealed that Miles had sustained multiple stab wounds, including at least one to the chest.
The following day, a woman contacted the police to report her 13-year-old son, later identified as VanNote. She stated that her son had returned home with $500 in cash, claiming he had been at a nearby gas station soliciting money from passersby.
Police conducted an interview with VanNote. Initially, he alleged that Miles had been aggressive towards him, but later retracted that statement. His final account, as detailed in court documents, indicated that he had observed Miles with a significant amount of cash at the gas station and subsequently followed him with the intention of committing robbery.
According to the lead investigator, VanNote claimed that Miles invited him inside. He stated that he requested water, but Miles informed him that he did not have any. VanNote alleged that Miles then instructed him to leave and opened the door. He reportedly told the police that he closed the door, retrieved a knife from the kitchen, and subsequently stabbed Miles.
