Woman faces felony charges after her dogs mauled 6-year-old boy to death

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A woman faces felony charges after her two dogs mauled a 6-year-old boy to death in Northeast Portland last December, Portland police announced.

A grand jury indicted the owner, Koko M. Miller, on charges of criminally negligent homicide and maintaining a dangerous dog on Wednesday. She also faces two counts of first-degree criminal mistreatment.

Authorities reported Miller’s two Great Dane-Mastiff mixes had attacked the child at her house in the Parkrose Heights neighborhood on Dec. 5. The boy had been dropped off by his grandmother for Miller to take him to school, which family members told police was a typical occurrence.

Miller allegedly entered the garage to take care of her two dogs when the 6-year-old boy opened the door behind her. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators said the boy had been told to stay away from the dogs before because they were dangerous, though there were no previous reports that the animals had ever been a problem.

The two dogs were euthanized the next day, according to Portland police.