January 23, 2026
Portland, OR- On January 23, 2026, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Celia Howes found Koko Moe Miller guilty on all charges related to the mauling death of six-year-old Loyalty Scott. Ms. Miller was found guilty of Criminally Negligent Homicide, Maintaining a Dangerous Dog, and two counts of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree.
Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Charles Mickley prosecuted the case for the state. After the verdict he said: “By all accounts, Loyalty Scott was a precious, loving, and beloved child. He was and is a very bright light. This case is tragic in so many distinct ways, even more so because his unimaginably horrifying death could have been so easily prevented.”
The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Multnomah County Animal Control and Portland Police Bureau personnel for their excellent work on this case. Many of the first responders and other people involved have been deeply affected by this case. In particular, the District Attorney’s Office appreciates the exemplary, thorough and compassionate work by the lead detective assigned to this case, Jennifer Musser.
MCDA would also like to thank MCDA Victim Advocate Alie Aguilera for the care and support shown to the victim’s family in this case.
THE FACTS:
In late November of 2023, the defendant offered to watch six-year-old Loyalty Scott and take him to school in the morning to help out a long-time family friend. On December 5, 2023, while the defendant was watching Loyalty, two of her dogs attacked and killed the boy. Both dogs were Great Dane/Mastiff mixes and they substantially outweighed the child.
Defendant told the 9-1-1 dispatcher that Loyalty had opened the wrong door prior to the fatal attack, and asserted that he had recently been told not to open doors at her house.. The subsequent investigation by police revealed the defendant had a history of owning large dogs that had previously attacked both people and other dogs. The investigation further revealed that the defendant specifically sought dogs that would be good for “personal protection” work rather than being pets. Both of the dogs involved in the fatal mauling had previously shown signs of aggression towards children, including Loyalty. Notwithstanding these warning signs, the defendant failed to secure both dogs while she was providing daycare for the child. Loyalty died of multiple dog bites to his head, neck and torso.
Sentencing in the case is set for March 13, 2026.
###MCDA###