Koko Miller, 57, was sentenced to 26 months in prison after her two large dogs fatally mauled a 6-year-old boy she was babysitting in Portland on Dec. 5, 2023. Prosecutors say the child was attacked after he opened a garage door and was set upon by Miller's 160-pound dog Carlos and a second dog, Lola. Miller admitted trying to choke the dog and said she attempted to use a firearm but never had a clear shot; both dogs were euthanized and she was convicted in January 2026.
Portland Woman Sentenced to 26 Months After Dogs Fatally Mauled 6-Year-Old She Was Babysitting
Loyalty Scott (left) and Koko Miller (right)Credit: GoFundMe; KPTV FOX 12
A Portland woman, Koko Miller, 57, has been sentenced to 26 months in prison after her two large dogs fatally mauled a 6-year-old boy she was babysitting on Dec. 5, 2023. A Multnomah County judge imposed the maximum sentence following Miller's convictions on charges that included criminally negligent homicide, maintaining a dangerous dog and criminal mistreatment.
What Happened
Prosecutors say the child, identified in court documents as Loyalty, was dropped off at Miller's home by his grandmother around 6:45 a.m. Miller had been watching the boy as a favor to the grandmother. Less than an hour after arrival, Miller called 911 to report that her two large dogs had attacked the child.
Miller told investigators she was putting one dog, a roughly 160-pound Great Dane/Mastiff mix named Carlos, into a kennel when Loyalty opened the garage door despite being told not to. Carlos allegedly ran through the door and attacked. A second dog, Lola, estimated at about 90 pounds, joined the attack. Prosecutors say Carlos mauled the boy for about 20 minutes.
Loyalty ScottCredit: GoFundMe
Attempts To Stop The Attack
Miller said she managed to pull Lola off the child and return that dog inside, and that she tried to choke Carlos and even retrieved a firearm in an attempt to stop the mauling, but she told police she never had a clear shot. Miller's husband later told police Carlos 'had a tendency to view children as toys' and might have perceived Loyalty as a 'toy that runs,' according to court filings.
Investigation, Trial And Sentence
Investigators reviewed online messages Miller exchanged with a dog breeder, which prosecutors say showed she sought large dogs for personal protection and had once complained that another dog 'wasn't trained to bite.' After a multi-month investigation, Miller was charged. On Jan. 23, 2026, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Celia Howes found her guilty on all counts. On April 24, 2026, the court imposed the statutory maximum sentence of 26 months in prison.
Both dogs involved in the attack, Carlos and Lola, were euthanized after the incident.
Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Charles Mickley said the case was 'tragic in so many distinct ways' and that Loyalty's death 'could have been so easily prevented.'
Aftermath
The sentence and convictions underscore criminal liability when owners keep dangerous animals and fail to take adequate precautions. The community and the boy's family continue to grieve the loss of a child described by prosecutors as 'precious, loving, and beloved.'
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