CHURUBUSCO — News of an arrest in Ravin Miller's murder sent shock waves through northern communities Wednesday.

"Everybody has just been sort of waiting for something to happen," said former Chateaugay Village Mayor Gabriel Lopardo.

He said he had never met resident Kathryn Shoemaker, the prime suspect in the 51-year-old Churubusco man's murder.

Police believe the 33-year-old woman strangled the local contractor in his Route 11 home in August and then staged his death to look like a suicide.

Lopardo said the news of Shoemaker's arrest was the topic of many conversations Wednesday.

Clinton resident Jason Burl said many in the area heard speculation about an impending arrest but were still surprised by the news.

"Word spreads quick around here, and he was really well-known. He'd take the shirt off his back for you."

Miller was employed as an equipment operator for the Highway Department at the time of his death.

His former boss, Clinton County Highway Superintendent Al Rascoe, said he was surprised by Shoemaker's arrest.

He said the news was sobering for employees but that the Highway Department was conducting "business as usual" Wednesday.

"We all kind of thought there was something more to this all along."

Dick Decosse, who owns Dick's Country Store, which Miller often frequented, said: "People are just very glad that they found the person. We're all glad that something has happened (with the case), and now we'd just like to know what happened.

"But I'm sure that will all come out with time."

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com