Mom of 4-year-old Kentucky girl missing since 2020 arrested with boyfriend

SHELBY COUNTY, Ky. (TCD) -- Authorities are asking the public for help in locating 4-year-old Serenity McKinney, who was last seen in December 2020 and whose mother was recently taken into custody.

On Feb. 3, the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office said it would work with the public and officials across all levels to find McKinney. According to the statement, extended family members spoke with law enforcement officials in Shelby County regarding "concerns that Serenity is in danger."

The same day as the Attorney General’s statement, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office posted a missing and endangered child announcement about the little girl’s disappearance. The poster said she was last seen Dec. 24, 2020, and her parents are "refusing to cooperate." Shelby County officials do not know her last known location but said it was possibly in Shelby, Jefferson, or Bullitt County.

WAVE-TV reports Serenity’s mom Catherine McKinney and Catherine’s boyfriend Dakota Hill were located in Kansas and booked into the Thomas County Jail. Jail records show they are being held for an outstanding warrant, but Shelby County Officials told WAVE the warrant was for a charge of custodial interference.

Shelby County Capt. Blake Lisby told WDRB-TV Catherine "refused to answer any of our questions and help us find the whereabouts of her daughter."

Serenity’s grandfather reportedly filed the missing person report with Shelby County, according to WDRB.

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