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Millsboro man charged with murdering family member

June 17, 2025

A Millsboro man is charged with murder after police say he assaulted a family member June 15.

Delaware State Police responded about 6 p.m. to a home in the 22000 block of Phillips Hill to check on the welfare of a 75-year-old woman after a concerned family member reported not being able to contact her for several days, police said. When troopers arrived on the scene, police said, they found Deborah Steele unresponsive on the couch. Emergency Medical Services were called to the scene and confirmed that she was deceased. Daniel Steele, 46, who was inside the home, was taken into custody without incident.

Police said they learned that Steele allegedly assaulted Deborah Steele inside the home until she lost consciousness, and there was no attempt to seek medical assistance for her.

Steele was transported to Troop 4 where he was charged with first-degree murder. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in default of a $1 million cash bond.