Overview
- Mandie Miller, 36, was sentenced Friday to 32 years and 4 months after pleading guilty to homicide by abuse, second-degree child assault, and two counts of unlawful imprisonment.
- Judge Rachelle Anderson imposed a term two years longer than prosecutors recommended, citing torture, starvation and a failure to protect the child.
- Prosecutors said home surveillance cameras captured the repeated restraints and assaults, including tying 8-year-old Meela to a car seat with zip ties.
- Funeral-home staff in Mitchell, South Dakota, alerted police when the couple arrived with a coffin but no death paperwork, leading to the multi-state investigation.
- Aleksander Kurmoyarov pleaded guilty to murder, assault and unlawful imprisonment under a deal that removed a life sentence and is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday.