A Portland woman whose dogs killed a young boy will serve roughly two years in prison.
Multnomah County Judge Celia Howes delivered the sentence after an emotional afternoon in court on Friday. The sentencing comes more than two years after Koko Miller’s two dogs killed her friend’s grandson.
The attack happened on Dec. 5, 2023, at a home near Northeast 112th Avenue and Schuyler Street. When officers arrived, they found that the dogs — described as Great Dane-Mastiff mixes — had mauled 6-year-old Loyalty Scott to death.
Loyalty had been at Miller’s house waiting to be dropped off at school. Family members filled the gallery, sobbing as his aunt, cousin, grandmother, and sister described how the tragedy has impacted their lives.
“I can never get over this,” his sister said through tears. “I called Koko my aunt. After this, I will no longer be able to accept that I no longer have my brother anymore. He will never get to experience high school nor middle school. So I’m just here to say that we all love and miss him.”
Loyalty’s aunt also became emotional.
“Grief sits with us every morning and follows us to bed every night,” she said. “There’s a constant ache in knowing that the child I love should still be here laughing and learning. Becoming who he was meant to be.”
A jury found Miller, 57, guilty in January of criminally negligent homicide, maintaining a dangerous dog, and two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment. During much of the sentencing, she sat with her head in her hands, shaking and at times crying.
She told the judge she loved Loyalty and wished she could have protected him.
“I know whatever I say will not bring him back. Believe me when I tell you I wish every day I could trade places with him,” Miller said. “I wish I was the one who died so he could grow up.”
Despite her statement, Judge Howes said Miller had not accepted personal responsibility or accountability for Loyalty’s death. That is why she imposed a sentence of two years and two months in prison.
She said the circumstances justified the harshest penalty possible and added that no sentence could ever truly reflect the pain and loss Loyalty’s family has endured.
“I simply have no words that can adequately honor the suffering and pain that you all are enduring,” Howes said. “Loyalty mattered. Your lives are never going to be the same, and your words today have meant so much more than anything I could say.”
She also addressed Miller directly.
“I hold out hope that over the course of your sentence and beyond that you’re going to have a moment of reflection, of humility and find it within yourself to appreciate the role and responsibility for Loyalty’s death.”
Leave a Comment