Mitchell police investigating death of juvenile girl

December 15, 2022

Mike Tanner

MITCHELL, S.D.–Mitchell police are investigating the death of a juvenile girl in Washington state whose body was being transported by two adults who were found in South Dakota.

The pair faces charges of failing to notify anyone about the death of the child, who died earlier this year.

The Mitchell Police Department issued a news release which reads:

On 12-14-22 the Mitchell Police Department was notified by the Davison County Coroner that he had been contacted by individuals stating that they were traveling from Washington State to Pine Ridge with their deceased daughter. Through the investigation, it was learned that 28-year-old Aleksander Kurmoyarov (DOB 1/27/94) and his girlfriend 33-year-old Mandie Miller (DOB 3-25-89) had traveled from Airway Heights WA to Mitchell SD with the body of Miller’s deceased 8-year-old adoptive daughter. Officers from the Mitchell Police Department were able to locate Kurmoyarov and Miller at a residence in Mitchell with a U-Haul tow behind trailer that they stated contained a coffin with Miller’s juvenile daughter’s body. During an interview with Kurmoyarov, he stated that the juvenile had died in Airway Heights a little before Halloween 2022. Miller told investigators that her daughter died on September 10, 2022.

Kurmoyarov admitted that he did not seek medical attention for the deceased juvenile when she died because he and Miller wanted to spend more time with her and that he was afraid that they would get in trouble. At no time did Kurmoyarov attempt to notify Law Enforcement in Washington State of the juveniles’ death. Miller and Kurmoyarov have been in South Dakota for approximately 4 days and specifically the City of Mitchell for approximately 2 days. At no time while in the State of South Dakota did Miller or Kurmoyarov notify law enforcement of the juvenile’s death.

Kurmoyarov and Miller were each charged with 1 count of Failure to notify Law Enforcement of death of child, SDCL 22-11-38 (F5)

This is an ongoing investigation, in conjunction with authorities in the State of Washington.