Former Belhaven Police Chief Arrested for 1972 Murder

He made a career out of putting people behind bars but tonight, a former police chief from the east is in jail, facing charges for a murder that happened 36 years ago. Officers from five different law enforcement agencies arrested 57-year- old George Hayden, at his Beaufort County home last night. Hayden is a former police chief in both Belhaven and Cape Carteret and is also a former Marine. Tonight, he's an inmate in the Onslow County Jail.

This is all coming to light almost 36 years to the day that George Hayden is accused of murdering a man who, at the time, was married to Hayden’s secret lover. And Sheriff Ed Brown says it all came to a head thanks to a pair of newspaper articles.

The case of Bill Miller's September 16, 1972 murder was cold for almost four decades. But a pair of recent newspaper articles put the heat back on the investigation into who gunned down the Camp Lejeune Marine in the middle of the night on Western Boulevard 36 years ago. A key witness came forward after the articles ran and now, investigators say George Hayden pulled the trigger. Back in 1998, Hayden when he was a detective at the Cape Carteret Police Department. A year later he took over as chief and served in that role for about a year before becoming Belhaven’s top cop in 2001. He was fired from Belhaven earlier this year. But before his career in law enforcement, Hayden was a Marine. And Sheriff Ed Brown says in 1972, Hayden became romantically involved with Miller's wife, Vickie, while Miller was off at training. When Miller returned home, he found Vickie and Hayden living together in his house. Miller kicked them out, but Sheriff Brown says a short time later, Vickie lured him to a wooded area, where Hayden shot him twice with a rifle.

Tonight Hayden, who also served as a Carteret County Deputy in the ‘90s, faces murder and conspiracy charges and is under no bond. Deputies planned to arrest Vickie Miller Hayden Babbit at her home in Oregon this afternoon. She’ll be brought back to face murder charges as well. Authorities here in Onslow County wouldn't talk on camera today, but they are scheduled to hold a press conference tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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Former Belhaven Police Chief George Hayden and his ex-wife face murder charges in a 1972 cold case. Onslow County Deputies say Hayden and his ex-wife, Vickie Miller Hayden Babbitt, are accused of murdering Vickie’s husband, William “Bill” Miller on Western Boulevard in Onslow County back on September 16, 1972. Onslow County Sheriff Ed Brown tells Nine on Your Side 27-year-old Bill Miller returned from training with the US Marine Corps. He found his wife, Vickie, with her lover, George Hayden. The two were living in Miller's home. Miller kicked Hayden out. A short time later, Miller's wife enticed him to a wooded area off Western Boulevard. Hayden shot Miller twice with a rifle. Sheriff Brown says there were other witnesses to the crime.

Hayden was arrested Monday night at his home in Beaufort County. Officials say Babbitt is expected to be arrested sometime today at her home in Oregon. They will both be held without bond. Hayden is also a former Cape Carteret Police Chief and Carteret County Sheriff's Deputy. Deputies say a key witness came forward with information after reading a blog written by Jacksonville Daily News Reporter Lindell Kay back in August. We have a crew working on this and will bring you the latest as it becomes available.