Serenity McKinney, a 4-year-old Kentucky girl, was last seen alive by family members at Christmas 2020. Her maternal grandfather reported her missing in Shelby County on January 31, 2022, more than a year after she was last seen. A judge ordered her mother, Catherine "Abby" McKinney, to produce the child, but she failed to comply. Catherine McKinney and her boyfriend, Dakota Hill, were located in Kansas and initially arrested on custodial interference charges. Serenity's body was subsequently found in a suitcase in a wooded area near the Jefferson/Bullitt county line in February 2022. The medical examiner ruled the manner of death a homicide, though the cause of death was listed as undetermined. Dakota Hill ultimately pleaded guilty to murder and was recommended a 50-year sentence, while Catherine McKinney pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
The WDRB article states that Catherine "Abby" McKinney, Serenity's biological mother, "pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter" and was "sentenced to 12 years in prison for her involvement in Serenity's death." She was originally charged with murder. The Courier Journal article also identifies Catherine McKinney as Serenity's mother and states she was charged with murder.
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
The WDRB article states that "Dakota Hill, 28, pleaded guilty to murder in connection with the death of Serenity McKinney, who was his girlfriend's daughter." The Courier Journal article identifies Hill as "boyfriend Dakota Hill, 26." The Commonwealth's Attorney stated, "Upon viewing Abby McKinney's statement, it's pretty obvious that we believe Dakota (Hill) was the primary offender."
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
The Courier Journal article states that Catherine McKinney and Dakota Hill "now face charges of murder and abuse of a corpse." The WDRB article confirms that Dakota Hill pleaded guilty to murder and Catherine McKinney pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Both were arrested and charged.
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the sources. The WDRB article states that "detectives found Serenity's body in a suitcase in a wooded area near the Jefferson/Bullitt county line." The medical examiner's report "listed the manner of death as a homicide but said the cause of death was 'undetermined,'" which is an unusual combination. The child was not seen by family after Christmas 2020 and was not reported missing until January 31, 2022 — over a year later. A judge had previously ordered the mother to produce the child, and when she did not, both she and her boyfriend were initially arrested on custodial interference charges before being upgraded to murder. The couple had fled to Kansas. The Commonwealth's Attorney characterized Hill as "the primary offender" based on the mother's statement.
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