Dakota Hill sentenced for killing 4-year-old Serenity McKinney

The man who pled guilty to killing four-year-old Serenity McKinney has been sentenced to prison.

Dakota Hill, 26, murdered Serenity, his girlfriend’s daughter, sometime in December 2020.

Her body, wrapped in plastic and stuffed in a suitcase, was found in a wooded area in the 1300 block of Skyview Road in West Point in February 2022. She was reported missing in January 2022 by concerned family members who had not seen Serenity since Christmas Eve 2020.

Hill was sentenced in a Bullitt County courtroom on Thursday to 50 years in prison. He pled guilty to murder in June 2023.

Serenity’s mother, Catherine McKinney, was previously sentenced to 12 years for her role in her daughter’s death. She reached a plea deal where prosecutors amended the murder charge against her to manslaughter in exchange for her testimony against Hill.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com