This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There are no answers as to how and exactly when a North Ogden man altered his neck tattoo to transform his estranged wife's first name to the word "Death" but corrections officials have determined it occurred after Eric Millerberg returned to the Utah State Prison.
Millerberg arrived at the prison in October 2011 on a parole violation after being charged with homicide in the drug overdose death of 16-year-old Alexis Rasmussen. At the time, his neck tattoo read "Dea" — the first name of wife Dea Millerberg.
Dea Millerberg, 39, testified against her husband, whom she is divorcing, during an April 9 preliminary hearing. A photograph of Eric Millerberg taken at that hearing showed the letters "th" had been added to the tattoo to spell "Death."
Tattooing is prohibited at the Utah State Prison. Corrections spokesman Stephen Gehrke said the information will be noted and shared with the Board of Pardons and Parole at future hearings for Millerberg, 36.
At the preliminary hearing, Dea Millerberg said the couple had a history of engaging in sex and drug use with Rasmussen. Dea Millerberg said the teenager died after Eric Millerberg injected her with a fatal mix of heroin and methamphetamine. The couple then dumped the girl's body near the Weber River in Morgan County; she was found about a month later.
Eric Millerberg faces charges of child abuse homicide, a first-degree felony, as well as obstructing justice, desecrating a body and having unlawful sexual activity with a minor. His next court hearing is set for June 26.