Missing Miya Rudd's remains found in Kentucky home; parents accused

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

Human remains matching those of a missing infant were found “hidden” in a home in Ohio County, Kentucky, last week, authorities said.

Investigators located Miya Rudd's remains around 1:15 p.m. Friday at her parents' home in Reynolds Station, about 90 miles southwest of Louisville, according to WFIE and Evansville Courier & Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Kentucky State Police investigators began a missing child investigation involving 8-month-old Rudd on June 6, according to a news release. The investigation quickly led to the arrests of Rudd's mother, Tesla Tucker, 29, and Rudd's father, Cage C. Rudd, 30.

“Once investigators have processed the scene, the baby will be taken by the Ohio County Coroner's Office and transported to the Kentucky Medical Examiners Office in Louisville,” the release said. “The investigation is ongoing by the Kentucky State Police, the Ohio County Coroner and the Kentucky Medical Examiners Office.”

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Authorities launch investigation into death

State police and Ohio County law enforcement searched for Miya at the home with cadaver dogs and specialized equipment. On Friday afternoon, television news stations reported that the Ohio County Coroner's Office had arrived at the search scene.

“For investigators, at this point, this just kicks off the death investigation,” KSP Trooper Corey King told WFIE-14 News Friday. “Now we start as if we arrived on scene and located this deceased baby…We have our survey equipment starting to come out; we treat it like a normal crime scene.”

King said the ongoing investigation will attempt to provide prosecutors with the evidence they need to build a case.

Family members had not seen Miya since late April, authorities said.

On Friday, Tucker and Rudd were charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and failure to report the death of a person, according to a Kentucky State Police news release. Two other people who allegedly lived at the residence – Miya's grandfather, Ricky J. Smith, 56, and Brodie Payne, 28 – were also indicted on these counts.

According to an arrest report cited by the Louisville Courier-Journal, Miya had not been seen by her family “since late April.” Miya's parents were initially booked into the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro, Kentucky, on drug possession, drug trafficking, and dropping minor charges.

Since then, the investigation has led to the arrests of other family members and others, including Miya's grandparents.

Family members and others have been detained in connection with the case.

Miya's paternal grandmother, Billie J. Smith, 49, was arrested Sunday on a domestic violence warrant, while her maternal grandparents, Taletha D. Tucker, 50, and David Tucker, 53, were arrested. Tuesday after a search warrant was executed at their Owensboro home, the Louisville Courier Journal reported.

Tucker, Rudd and Smith appeared in court Monday and pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, according to WFIE. Payne, who faced drug charges, was also in the courtroom and made a similar plea.

Authorities launch investigation into death

Family members had not seen Miya since late April, authorities said.

Family members and others have been detained in connection with the case.

Lina Portman

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