LONGVIEW, Texas (EAST TEXAS NEWS) – A Gregg County district judge sentenced a man to 20 months in prison for the negligent drowning of his two-year-old son in a Kilgore hotel swimming pool.
Scotty Killough, 44, a resident of Abilene, appeared Thursday morning before Judge Alfonso Charles for sentencing on charges tied to the accidental drowning of his son, Luke Killough.
In April 2021, Luke and his siblings were staying with their father at a Kilgore hotel. With no supervision, no life jacket, and no flotation devices, Luke slipped into the hotel’s pool and drowned.
According to Gregg County Assistant District Attorney Tanya Reed, Killough did not know what had happened until his four-year-old daughter told him.
Killough had previously entered a no-contest plea, which he tried to withdraw. His defense argued that a witness lied during testimony.
Judge Charles denied the request, stating that Killough had “backed out.” Luke’s mother, Dominique Latham, 30, said she was glad someone had held accountable for her son’s death.
“I’m glad accountability was taken for the life that was lost that day,” Latham said.
Latham says Luke was an organ donor and that his family will honor his memory.
“He gave his heart to a two-year-old girl, and his legacy will live on in her family,” Latham said.
Killough was sentenced to 20 months in a state prison with credit for time already served.
