Woman Sentenced to 32 Years for Starving Adopted Daughter to Death

Mandie Miller pleaded guilty to homicide by abuse, assault, and unlawful imprisonment of 8-year-old Meela Miller.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Mandie Miller, 36, has been sentenced to 32 years in prison for killing her adopted 8-year-old daughter Meela Miller in 2022. Miller pleaded guilty to homicide by abuse, assault, and unlawful imprisonment. Authorities say Miller restrained the child for hours each day, starved her, and assaulted her, including beating her toes with a hammer. Miller and her boyfriend lived with the child's body for 3 months before driving it over 1,000 miles in a U-Haul to a funeral home in South Dakota, where they were caught.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tragic consequences of child abuse and neglect, as well as the lengths some perpetrators will go to cover up their crimes. It raises questions about the foster care system and whether more could have been done to protect Meela Miller, as well as the need for stronger laws and enforcement to prevent such horrific acts of violence against vulnerable children.

The details

According to prosecutors, Mandie Miller restrained 8-year-old Meela Miller, her adopted daughter, for several hours each day in the months leading up to the child's death. Home surveillance footage showed Miller tying the child to a car seat with zip ties, assaulting her, and starving her. The child's toes were also beaten with a hammer as punishment. After Meela's death, Miller and her boyfriend kept the child's body in their home for 3 months before driving it over 1,000 miles in a U-Haul to a funeral home in South Dakota, where they were caught when they could not provide documentation of the death.

  • Meela Miller died sometime before Halloween 2022, according to the boyfriend's statement.
  • Mandie Miller claimed Meela died on September 10, 2022.
  • On December 15, 2022, police executed a search warrant at the home and found evidence of the abuse and attempts to cover up the death.

The players

Mandie Miller

A 36-year-old woman who pleaded guilty to homicide by abuse, assault, and unlawful imprisonment of her adopted 8-year-old daughter, Meela Miller.

Aleksander Kurmoyarov

Mandie Miller's 31-year-old boyfriend, who lived with Meela Miller's body for 3 months before driving it over 1,000 miles to a funeral home in South Dakota.

Meela Miller

An 8-year-old girl who was adopted by Mandie Miller and tragically starved to death by her adoptive mother.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tragic consequences of child abuse and neglect, as well as the lengths some perpetrators will go to cover up their crimes. It raises questions about the foster care system and whether more could have been done to protect Meela Miller, as well as the need for stronger laws and enforcement to prevent such horrific acts of violence against vulnerable children.