John Miller bore a physical resemblance to Billy the Kid, characterized by overlapping buck teeth, sloping shoulders, small hands, big wrists, big ears, blue eyes, a height of 5’7.5″ and various wounds on his body. Miller also shared other qualities with Billy, such as his proficiency in Spanish, remarkable skill in handling pistols and rifles, and a friendly persona that endeared him to many. However, he was also known for his short temper and quick wit, traits that also echoed Billy’s personality.
Miller constantly remained alert, as if he were a fugitive evading the law. Despite his cautious nature, Miller was a reliable and truthful person who didn’t shy away from honesty. Deep knowledge of the Lincoln County War was another trait Miller concealed. But when the subject came up, his listeners were able to connect the dots and seemingly came to the conclusion that he was, in fact, the infamous outlaw.
It is worth considering how John Miller managed to elude Pat Garrett at Fort Sumner if he truly was the Kid. Either Miller provided varying accounts of his escape to different acquaintances, or one became diluted over time. One such story implies that he had been wounded in the chest about a week prior to July 14, 1881 and was under Isadora’s care as he recuperated. According to this version, Garrett had accidentally killed a Mexican or Navajo sheep herder in the Maxwell house. Another account offered suggests that Garrett shot him in the same building, and he feigned death as Garrett inspected him. Miller’s Mexican friends then hid him away to prepare him for burial, switching out his corpse with that of a recently deceased Mexican before interment. Regardless of which version one considers, it is probable that Garrett either had no idea of what had occurred, or was in on it. As far as the witnesses in death, it is a wonder how many actually did see the body up close as opposed to just being there. Or who was secretly cheering on the fact that it may not have been Billy. If so they had done a great job concealing it from big mouthed Anglos and such. Perhaps John Miller was killed July 14, 1881 and buried as Billy the Kid, while Billy rode off with a new identity…
Upon research, it is unclear who John Miller’s wife Isadora truly was. Although she claimed to have lived at Fort Sumner during the alleged killing of her husband Billy the Kid, there is no record of an Isadora living in the Sumner during 1881. Some sources suggest the possibility of Celsa Gutierrez being Isadora, as she disappeared without a trace. There is also hints that she may have been a woman from Anton Chico and met young Miller at a dance in Sumner. However, this is merely speculation.
The census records of John and Isadora Miller also present discrepancies, suggesting they were a couple on the run. The birthplaces and years born listed for both John and his parents were intentionally misleading, further complicating matters. More research is needed to confirm the true identity of Isadora and shed light on this mysterious figure.
According to available records, Isadora has claimed that John Miller was Billy the Kid. However, since there is no actual evidence to support this claim, it is difficult to make a definitive conclusion. It remains a mystery as to who John Miller truly was and why record of him prior to 1880 has yet to be discovered. For all we know so far on Miller’s story, and the potential afterlife of Billy the Kid, we invite you to continue reading and formulate your own judgement on this topic…

It is rumors that say John Miller tied the knot with Isadora, in Las Vegas, New Mexico on August 8, 1881. He was said to be carrying a weapon on his person and bore the effects of a recent bullet wound that was visible through his attire. The newly-wed couple embarked upon their journey driving a loaded wagon westwards while Miller rode a horse and driving a few cattle.
To evade detection, it is assumed that they traveled by night and rested during the day. It is unclear where the Millers went but they did turn up in the 1900 U.S. Census of  Valencia County. They may had been in the area for about 19 years, or not. Around 1910, The Millers moved again to the Ramah area.
While in The Ramah area Miller made some PALS. 
Frank Creasy, at 21 years old, embarked on a journey to locate his immigrant relatives and fulfill his ambition of becoming an American rancher. In 1913, Frank discovered his cousins, the Masters, who ran the first trading post in Ramah, New Mexico. Frank worked part-time with the Masters, while also assisting neighbouring rancher John Miller with his horses and cattle. After a brief period, Frank pursued his father’s profession and became a deputy sheriff with New Mexico’s McKinley County, although he continued to care for his own land and work closely with Miller for almost 10 years.

One night around a campfire, John Miller revealed a secret to Frank: his true identity was William Bonney, or Billy the Kid. According to Creasy, contrary to popular belief, Billy was alive and not killed by Pat Garrett. 
John Miller and his wife later spent some time in Reserve, a mining town, in the central of The Zuni Forest. The Millers later continued to move about, this time to Quemado on the north end of the now Zuni National Forest. Here, Mr. Miller secured a position as a cook in the well-known Nation’s Ranch. However, due to unfortunate circumstances, Mr. Miller was involved in a gunfight with one of the employees, for reasons still unknown. Fortunately, neither party was injured. Regrettably, this incident resulted in Mr. Miller losing his job, which lead to the couple having to move once again.
At the start of the 20th century, the Millers took in a young child who was in need of a home. They gave him the name Max, and he became an important part of their family.
The Miller family relocated to El Morro and then into the Zuni Mountains in north-central New Mexico Territory. During their journey, they encountered Jesus Eriacho, a prosperous cattleman and rancher. Eriacho hired Miller to manage a portion of his vast herd for five years. At the end of the term, Eriacho guaranteed Miller half of the new cattle that were born during the five-year time frame. The Millers led an isolated life in a cave where Miller built a small shack inside. Also providing shelter were deserted cabins while fulfilling Miller’s job. After the completion of the task, Eriacho kept his promise, and Miller constructed a home and ranch for himself, Max and Isadora. The house was positioned on a hill near Pescado and south of Ramah, approximately 30 miles southwest of El Morro. This location became known as Miller’s Canyon, which today is on the Zuni reservation.
Miller established himself as a skilled horseman and rancher over the course of several years. His amicable demeanor and warm disposition garnered him and his wife, Isadora, many friends in the Ramah and Zuni community. They were renowned for their hospitality, frequently opening their home to guests and offering assistance to neighboring residents in need. 
As for at least one account, Miller joined a posse in the village of (old) Zuni to catch some cow thieves that had stolen from the local ranchers. When they neared the suspects hiding place, there was hesitation amongst the pusillanimous crowd. Miller smiled and said he would go in alone and did so.
An hour or two passed hours passed and Miller re-appeared with the stolen cattle and no one ever knew what had transpired during that conversation.
Mr. John Miller was highly proficient in handling firearms and enjoyed demonstrating his proficiency to his acquaintances. People of the Zuni area were often regaled with captivating anecdotes from Miller about historical events, such as the Lincoln County War and figures like “Billy the Kid.”
In an impressive display of his physical abilities, Mr. Miller once showcased a technique wherein he could escape restraints with ease. Although he never explicitly stated it, his skills were reminiscent of that of the legendary outlaw. Mr. Miller’s knowledge and expertise were highly regarded, and he was always eager to impress his friends with his captivating stories and shooting prowess. Witnesses recall Miller in possession of a large quantity of gold coins, which he used only when needed.
Based on reports, it is alleged that Miller had confided in a small group of individuals he was acquainted with, that he was the Kid. He politely requested of each one of them to keep the secret until after his death. Occasionally, under the influence of alcohol, he repeated similar claims, only to retract them while sober. Isadora, who only spoke Spanish, spoke more openly about Miller’s actual identity as the Kid. Furthermore, acquaintances of the Millers had noticed a locked trunk always in their possession, which may have held valuable mementos from Miller’s past as the Kid. These insights provide a better understanding of Miller’s personal history and hints of a potential connection to the legendary outlaw.
As time passed, the Millers faced a series of challenges. A prolonged drought seriously impacted their ranch, and Isadora, Miller’s wife, began to experience vision loss in addition to a hand injury that left her with limited use of that appendage. Meanwhile, Miller himself dealt with rheumatism, which caused ongoing joint and muscle pain. Despite these struggles, the Millers remained committed to caring for each other and Max.
Max Miller enlisted in the U.S. Army and began fighting in World War I. Unfortunately, he was reported as missing in action, causing great concern for his family. The Millers made the difficult decision to leave their ranch and relocate to San Simon, Arizona. Fortunately, their worries were put at ease when Max surprised them with a visit. He had not perished in the war and had been discharged from service. The Miller family was overjoyed and grateful to be reunited with Max.

In 1920, Miller and his wife relocated to Buckeye, attracted by the reputed benefits of its mineral springs for his rheumatism. Miller secured employment as a horse trainer on a local farm, and ultimately earned enough money to establish his own house near Liberty. The community welcomed Miller and regarded him with esteem.
It has been reported that Miller’s new friends and neighbors had raised suspicions that he may have been the renowned outlaw, Billy the Kid. Furthermore, it has been alleged by John Conley that Miller expressed distress upon learning of radio shows that conveyed erroneous information about Billy the Kid’s historical background.
Around year 1930, an unfortunate incident occurred where the Miller household caught fire. Tragically, Isadora inadvertently started a fire while smoking in bed. Fortunately, Miller and his companions were able to successfully rescue her from the burning building. However, Isadora, unfortunately, passed away due to the inhalation of smoke shortly after the incident.
Miller, following the loss of his wife Isadora, experienced a decline in his physical and mental condition. As a result of a fall from a roof he was repairing, his son Max made the decision to admit him to a retirement home. On March 12, 1937, Miller was admitted to the Pioneer Home in Prescott, Arizona.
While at The Pioneers Home, Miller again slipped and fell down, fracturing the neck of his right femur bone on October 15, 1937. This caused Miller tremendous pain and suffering.

During the final months of Miller’s life, he made several attempts to contact his close friends to reveal secrets that he had kept hidden for years. He reached out to Ellis Conley, who was unfortunately ill at the time and unable to visit. Additionally, he attempted to connect with Ross Conley, who was unable to make the trip to Prescott. Finally, Miller wrote a letter to Max, pleading with him to come and bring him home, but unfortunately, Max was unable to make it in time. It’s clear that Miller felt a strong desire to make amends and disclose his secrets before his passing.
Miller passed away at 6:30 pm on Nov. 7, 1937, at Arizona Pioneer Home. John Miller may have also had a pneumonia at the time of death.  The dearly departed was laid to rest in Pioneers cemetery on Iron Springs Road in Prescott, Arizona, with a commemorative plaque. Miller’s Grave is in row W grave # 8. 
After the passing of John Miller, there is speculation that the ownership of the trunk he and Isadora shared came under the jurisdiction of the courts in Arizona. “A court representative was entrusted with the task of locating Miller’s heir and embarked on a journey to Liberty City to see Ross Conley who Miller listed as his contact. From there Conley may have sent the man to Ramah with the trunk, to look for Max. During this process, the representative reported to have spoken to some of Miller’s acquaintances who claimed that the trunk contained evidence authenticating Miller’s identity as Billy the Kid. Despite efforts, no heir was discovered and the present location of the trunk remains unknown.”
There are some inconsistencies in the available information regarding the contents of the trunk. Further research is necessary to verify its accuracy. However, it seems plausible that an individual from the Pioneers Home visited Ross Conley in Liberty City and learned that Miller was the Kid from the tales that were told to Bill Conley. Another source suggests that Miller’s trunk, which contained most of his gold coins, was unfortunately destroyed along with the home that caught fire during Isadora’s tragic incident. The gold coins would have had to have been very thin to melt in a house fire. More research would be required to confirm these details.
Max Miller passed away at Gallup, New Mexico on September 1, 1988 and is buried there at Sunset Memorial Park. Max departed this world at age 94.