Father and son accused of hunting down, fatally stabbing Mike White

Michael White stepped out of a walk-up Concession Street apartment building around 5:30 a.m. Dec. 13 and casually walked to a local store to get food.

He was in no hurry. He had no idea what was coming.

Soon after, a blue Kia Soul can be seen on surveillance video skulking" on Concession, said Det. Sgt Steve Bereziuk of the Hamilton police major crime unit. The two men inside find White walking alone on East 27th Street around 6 a.m. that Sunday morning.

There is evidence . . . that they were looking for Mike specifically," he said.

Witnesses described both men getting out of the vehicle and attacking the 42-year-old, but Bereziuk can't say which one wielded the weapon - believed to be a knife. White was stabbed multiple times, stumbled down the street and collapsed onto the roadway.

Before his attackers fled, they stole something from White, but Bereziuk won't say what. White later died of his injuries in hospital.

Hamilton police allege a father-son duo are responsible for the murder - Hamilton's 17th homicide last year.

Angelo Graci was arrested during a traffic stop in the intersection of Upper James Street and Rymal Road Jan. 20. He is charged with first-degree murder and remains in custody. His son Angelo Miller, 29, is wanted but has eluded capture.

Both men are known to police. Graci was known to have ties to the Mob. However, Bereziuk said there is no indication that this homicide is connected to traditional organized crime. Rather, police believe Graci came to help his son after an incident inside the unit at 825 Concession St. that Miller rented. That's where police allege a woman was confined and assaulted overnight before White's murder.

Hamilton police believe that woman, Miller and White were in the apartment together. They were all acquaintances and drugs were involved.

According to a source, White is believed to have tried to help the woman. She escaped and later called police from east Hamilton.

Bereziuk would not comment on what happened inside the apartment, but confirmed that had White survived he would have been considered a witness in the forcible confinement case, not another suspect.

Miller is wanted on four counts of assault with a weapon, forcible confinement, uttering threat to cause death and two counts of fail to comply with probation in the apartment incident. And he's wanted for first-degree murder in the death of White.

Graci had been at his son's apartment sometime the night before, but is believed to have left before the woman was confined. Why did he return? Did Miller call his dad for backup when things didn't go his way?

Homicide investigators believe what happened inside that apartment is tied to the murder.

However, Bereziuk would not detail evidence.

The blue Kia, seized by police after the murder, belongs to Graci. The murder weapon has not been found.

The 59-year-old, from Mount Hope, did not appear to be hiding before his arrest. However, Miller lives a more transient lifestyle," Bereziuk said. He has not returned to his Concession apartment and has proven difficult for police to catch.

Bereziuk believes Miller is likely still in Hamilton and is being helped. He warned anyone helping Miller that they could face charges. If Miller is spotted police ask the public to call 911.

White was also known to police before his death. White's family told police he was an avid card collector, liked playing card games and was well-loved by his family. He leaves behind two children and two grandchildren.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Geoff Burbidge at 905-546-2288. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com