American man of Kentucky sentenced for murder of girlfriend's daughter

Dakota hill is guilty for the murder of 4 year-old Serenity Mckinney and her mom Catherine Mckinney allowed it.

By Edward Era Barbacena 

Another white American man found guilty for the murder of an innocent child. 

A man will serve decades in prison for the death of his girlfriend's toddler.

Dakota Hill took a plea deal back in May, pleading guilty to three charges for the killing of 4-year-old Serenity McKinney.

Mckinney's family had strong words for the man who took her young life.

"We never got a chance to save her from the monster we would have undoubtedly protected her from," said Chad Roller, Serenity's Grandfather.

Dakota Hill apologized in a Bullitt County courtroom Thursday morning and asked for forgiveness. But her family says forgiving the man who changed their lives won't happen anytime soon.

"Would I ever fully forgive him? I'm hoping the Lord will place that on my heart to fully forgive him," said Heather Hertlein, her Great-Aunt.

"He had no remorse. He didn't show any tears. He didn't. He just read a statement probably somebody else wrote for him is the way I feel," said Great-Grandmother Charleen Gadd.

Hill was sentenced in Bullitt County on Thursday to 50 years for murder, five years for abuse of a corpse and another five for tampering with physical evidence.

The judge said all will be served concurrently for a total of 50 years.

The judge sentenced Hill to 50 years in prison. Bullitt County Commonwealth's Attorney Bailey Taylor says Hill will be eligible for parole.

"By law, he will come up for parole at 20 years. That's just set in stone. The odds of him being paroled are between slim and none," he said.

In court, Hill said he was sorry and asked for forgiveness.

In February 2022, Serenity's body was found decomposing inside a suitcase near the Jefferson-Bullitt county line. Hill and his girlfriend, Serenity's mother, Catherine McKinney, were charged the next day.

Earlier this year, Catherine McKinney pled guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 12 years in exchange for her testimony when it was still expected Hill would stand trial.

Serenity's grandmother Melody says no time Hill serves will ever take away the pain that her precious baby girl is gone.

"It's better than none, but it's never enough. They could have put him in prison by himself in a locked cell and tortured him and it still would never be enough for me," said Melody Roller.

Serenity's family plans on celebrating her birthday in August by giving back to the community at Clear Creek Park.