OFFICE OF DAKOTA COUNTY ATTORNEY

JAMES C. BACKSTROM
COUNTY ATTORNEY

Dakota County Judicial Center Telephone

1560 Highway 55 (651) 438-4438
Hastings, Minnesota 55033-2392 FAX: (651) 438-4479 (Civil Division)
Phillip D. Prokopowicz, Chief Deputy FAX: (651) 438-4500 (Criminal Division)
Karen A. Schaffer, First Assistant FAX: (651) 438-4499 (Juvenile/Admin Division)
Monica Jensen, Community Relations Director E-mail: attorney@co.dakota.mn.us

December 14, 2010

NEWS RELEASE

CHARGES FILED AGAINST MOTHER IN DEATH OF 17-MONTH-OLD CHILD

Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced that Melissa Louise Hokanson, age 19 of Northfield, has
been charged* with Manslaughter in the Second Degree and two counts of Neglect of a Child, one felony and
one gross misdemeanor), in connection with the death of her 17-month-old son Nicholas Arthur Miller who
died on June 23, 2009. These charges allege that Melissa Hokanson failed to seek medical care for her son after
he was injured on June 19, 2009, thereby causing his death.

Tylar Hokanson, the husband of Melissa Hokanson and stepfather of Nicholas Miller, was convicted by a
Dakota County Jury on November 25, 2010 of Murder in the First and Second Degree in connection with the
death of Nicholas Miller.

The facts pertaining to these charges are contained in the criminal complaint which can be found at
http://services.co.dakota.mn.us/ComplaintSearch.

Backstrom commented: “The death of a child under circumstances such as this is deeply disturbing. A thorough
investigation has been completed in this matter. I do not anticipate that anyone else will be charged in
connection with this tragedy.”

Backstrom said that Melissa Hokanson made her first appearance in court today. She was released subject to a
number of conditions and her next court appearance will be on March 14, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. in Hastings.

If you have questions, contact James Backstrom at 651-438-4440.

*Criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant/suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty