Washington Couple Sentenced for Torturing and Killing Eight-Year-Old Girl
A depraved couple from Washington state has been sentenced for the horrific torture and murder of an eight-year-old girl, followed by a macabre journey with her corpse across state lines. Mandie Miller, 36, received a substantial 32-year prison term on Friday for the brutal killing of her adopted daughter and biological niece, Meela, in September 2022.
Systematic Abuse and Starvation Led to Tragic Death
Miller and her 31-year-old boyfriend, Aleksander Kurmoyarov, subjected the young girl to relentless abuse. They restrained Meela with zip ties for extended periods and inflicted punishment by bludgeoning her toes with a hammer. The couple also deprived the child of basic necessities, withholding food and water until she wasted away to a mere 26 pounds before her death.
Spokane County deputy prosecutor Emily Sullivan detailed the evidence at sentencing, revealing that the couple's own home camera system inadvertently recorded their assaults. "The facts before this court are undisputed. They did assault her, they did starve her, they did restrain her, they did torture her, and they did kill her," Sullivan stated emphatically.
Gruesome Aftermath and Cross-Country Flight
In a shocking twist, after Meela died, the couple lived with her lifeless body for three months, claiming they "wanted to spend more time with her." In December, they rented a U-Haul truck, placed her body in a coffin inside, and drove nearly 1,100 miles to South Dakota.
Their plan unraveled when they arrived at a funeral home seeking to bury the coffin without proper death certificates. Suspicious staff contacted local police, who coordinated with authorities in Washington, obtained a search warrant, and established probable cause for arrest. Initially charged with failing to report a death, the pair later faced far more serious allegations.
Legal Proceedings and Emotional Courtroom Moments
Miller pleaded guilty in January to assault, homicide by abuse, and two counts of unlawful imprisonment. At her sentencing, she read a statement acknowledging her foster care childhood while admitting, "My daughter did not deserve any abuse or neglect from me. She most definitely didn't deserve any abuse from Alex."
In a poignant courtroom scene, Meela's biological mother, Andrea Miller, delivered an emotional speech expressing forgiveness. "I forgive you, and Jesus Christ loves you. And I pray this never happens to another child," she told the defendants.
Kurmoyarov also pleaded guilty to murder, assault, and unlawful imprisonment, avoiding a life sentence. He is scheduled for sentencing on February 10, as this tragic case concludes with justice served for the young victim.
