MANSFIELD, Ohio — Thom Miller, the Mansfield polygamist pastor who gained international attention in early December, will be featured on the national talkshow Dr. Phil on Friday, according to the show’s website.
The listing details read:
“Thom says he’s a polygamist and he recently ‘wed,’ and is expecting a child, with 19-year-old Reba — with the blessing of his 44-year-old wife, Belinda. Belinda says she believes bringing a ‘sister wife’ into her marriage is a ‘beautiful thing’ and she’s grateful to have the extra help around the house. Reba, who’s known Thom since she was 11, says despite the 41-year age gap, she knows she’s with the love of her life.”
No court files verify that Miller is married to 19-year-old Reba Kerfoot, his latest “wife.”
On Monday, Miller declined to comment on the airing of his family’s story on Dr. Phil.
The Millers are involved in a court case with Richland County Children Services through the Fifth District Court of Appeals, with Belinda’s name on the docket and John Boyd listed as her lawyer.
According to Boyd, the Millers appealed a court case that Juvenile Court Judge Ron Spon handled in October. Boyd said the case involved the removal of Belinda’s children from the Miller’s home. Boyd then filed three appeals in cases between Belinda Miller and Richland County Children Services based on a decision issued by Ron Spon in October, said Boyd.
“The Millers are under a strong belief that polygamy is an acceptable lifestyle according to the bible, therefore they feel persecuted against by the State of Ohio,” said Boyd.
Boyd said he filed the appeals based on the position the law was not properly applied to the facts of the Millers’ case.
Thom Miller also reportedly has had six wives and has fathered 12 children. According to the Daily Mail, Thom’s biological children created a Facebook group “Biological Children of Thomas Nicolas Miller.” A search for the page, however, revealed no group by name.
Miller has an active minister license, according to the Ohio Secretary of State under the name “United Christian Ministries International.”
Miller said he operated a food pantry out of his church located at Ohio Hilltop.
According to a local business owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, she and her husband met Thom and Belinda Miller at a nonprofit fundraising event. The couples sat at the same table.
“We ended up asking him about how he funds his food pantry,” she said. “He said he had some money from a previous engagement, some past something. He was very vague and I remember thinking it was odd.”
