Dog sitter escapes kidnapping after taking job from dog walking app, MA cops say
A Massachusetts man is charged with kidnapping a woman who accepted a dog walking job and went to his house, where police said a “suspicious” incident occurred.
The woman told authorities that she works for a dog walking app and agreed to watch a woman’s dogs for a few hours in Southbridge, about a 60-mile drive southwest from Boston, on July 11, the Southbridge Police Department said in a July 16 news release.
The other woman had reached out to her through the app, according to police.
When the dog sitter went to the home, she told authorities she was “greeted” by a man and they went inside.
The home was dark, and there were seemingly no signs of any dogs or the woman who contacted her, according to the dog sitter, police said.
The man, Mark L. Miller, 62, of Southbridge, did not let the woman leave the house and “asked her to go upstairs,” according to authorities.
He was “positioned” by a door in the home “to prevent her from leaving,” the woman reported, police said.
Miller is represented by attorney Nicholas Adamopoulos, who told McClatchy News via email on July 17 that “at this time we have no comment pertaining to Mr. Miller’s open matter beyond that Mr. Miller maintains his innocence and looks forward to proving his innocence throughout the upcoming proceedings.”
Out of fear, the woman escaped Miller’s house and headed to the Southbridge police station, according to authorities, leading to an investigation.
Miller was arraigned on a kidnapping charge in Dudley District Court on July 14, police said. He is being held on a cash bail as of July 16.
According to court documents reviewed by The Boston Globe, the woman was expecting to watch dogs belonging to “Carol M” on July 11.
Miller said “Carol M” was his wife when he was interviewed by police, the newspaper reported.
The dog sitter accused Miller of not letting her leave his house for five minutes, including by physically blocking her from reaching the door, according to The Boston Globe, which cited court records.
The Southbridge Police Department did not specify which dog walking app the woman worked for. There are several apps for dog walking and pet sitting, including Wag! and Rover.
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Dog sitter escapes kidnapping after taking job from dog walking app, MA cops say."
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