Authorities have charged four individuals with abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering following the discovery of an infant’s remains in the home of missing 8-month-old Miya Rudd.
Miya Rudd was last seen in April 2024, according to police. Her parents, Tesla Tucker and Cage Rudd, along with her grandfather Ricky Smith, have been arrested in connection with her disappearance.
On June 6, Kentucky State Police conducted a welfare check in Reynolds Station, Ky., and could not locate Miya. The department, initially identifying the infant as Miya Tucker, later confirmed her name as Miya Rudd.
Following the welfare check, authorities arrested Miya’s parents and her grandfather on several charges related to her disappearance. According to an arrest affidavit cited by the Courier Journal, Miya’s parents claimed she had been taken by child services, a statement police determined to be false.
During their search, police allegedly found drug paraphernalia, including methamphetamine, in the home. This discovery raised concerns about Miya’s potential exposure to drugs. Police previously reported that Miya’s umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine when she was born in October 2023.
On June 14, troopers discovered a decomposed body concealed inside the Rudd residence, which they suspect to be Miya’s remains. The remains were sent to the Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office in Louisville for further examination.
Following the discovery, Tucker, Rudd, and Smith faced additional charges of abuse of a corpse, evidence tampering, and failing to report a death. Another resident of the home, Brodie C. Payne, was also charged with the same offenses. Payne had been initially arrested on drug charges and charges related to organized crime.
Tucker and Rudd had previously been charged with child abandonment and drug possession. Smith had faced charges of child abuse, child abandonment, drug trafficking, and possession of firearms by a felon.
Authorities had also arrested Miya’s grandmothers and another grandfather during the investigation, but they were not charged in connection with her disappearance. Taletha D. Tucker and David Tucker, who were caring for Tesla’s three other children, have since had the children removed from their care.
A GoFundMe campaign set up by a woman identifying herself as Miya’s aunt is raising funds for the infant’s memorial. “We are absolutely devastated due to this tragedy and need your help in raising enough money to give her the proper burial and memorial she deserves,” the fundraiser reads.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming. It is currently unclear if the four detained individuals have entered pleas or have legal representation.
