Father gets 20-month sentence due to toddler’s death

KILGORE – An East Texas father was sentenced to 20 months in jail after his son died from a swimming accident at a Kilgore hotel in 2021, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

On April 25, 2021, 2-year-old Luke Wayne Killough was about to go swimming with his sister at the Kilgore Holiday Inn and Suites when he fell into the hot tub. Luke’s sister tried to save him, but was unable to, so she ran and got her father, Scotty Wayne Killough, who was nearby, making a bottle for his baby. She told her dad that her “boogie,” a nickname for her brother, was floating face-down in the hot tub. According to the mother, Dominique, Scotty ran over, pulled Luke from the water and performed CPR until medical personnel arrived. He was then care-flighted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, where he died five days later due to brain trauma.

Despite dying over four years ago, Luke will always be remembered as a hero. Since he was a universal blood donor, he was able to save several lives through organ donation. Scotty said donated organs included Luke’s heart, liver, kidneys and spleen.

Scott was sentenced to 20 months in jail on Thursday after he pleaded guilty to criminal negligent homicide.