Seven people are facing charges as the search for an 8-month-old Kentucky baby continues.
Miya Rudd (also referred to as Miya Tucker) has not been seen “since the end of April,” according to an arrest citation. Police, however, began looking for her on June 6.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Miya’s parent, 29-year-old Tesla Tucker and 30-year-old Cage Rudd, were subsequently arrested on drug charges and abandonment of a minor after police conducted a welfare check at the home on June 6 in Ohio County.
Miya’s paternal grandmother, Billie Smith, was also arrested and charged with domestic assault, while her paternal grandfather, Ricky Smith, is facing child abuse and drug-related charges.
Last week, when police entered Billie Smith’s driveway, they observed a 37-year-old man, identified as Timothy Roach, attempting to throw Suboxone under his vehicle, WKLY reports. Police arrested Roach and charged him with possession of a controlled substance and “prescription controlled substance not in proper container.”
Now, another set of grandparents have been arrested: Taletha and David Tucker. Police arrested the pair Wednesday.
ABC 11 reports that David Tucker was arrested for “non-payment warrant issued in Daviess County,” while Taletha Tucker is facing charges of being a fugitive from Indiana.
Court documents indicated that Tesla Tucker told her mother, Taletha, who has custody of Tesla’s three other children, that social workers and officers visited her home on May 1 and took Miya. However, police confirmed that it was untrue.
Meanwhile, investigators continue the search for the infant.
Earlier this week, a Kentucky State Police search team with cadaver dogs searched the Reynolds Station area of northwest Kentucky. The area is close to Deanfield Church, approximately half a mile from the home where infant Miya Tucker lived with her parents.
“This is truly a case on how illicit street drugs can and will destroy lives and cause the erosion of our community,” KSP Trooper Corey King said Tuesday.
King stated that cadaver dogs first searched the family’s home, which gave them sufficient evidence to warrant the search in the surrounding area. He added that Miya’s parents have been uncooperative with the investigation.
“We’re very hopeful and optimistic that we would find her alive, maybe perhaps a family member has her, but the longer this goes on, the more grim it seems,” he said.
King said social workers planned to remove Miya, born in October 2023, from the parents after her umbilical cord that tested positive for methamphetamine. The parents reportedly evaded social services for months by moving to different homes.
“Every aspect of interviewing and investigating, merely looking for the safety of this child has netted an arrest, a drug arrest,” King said.
“All we’re trying to do is get the answers to where the whereabouts of this child, but sadly, everybody that’s involved in this, when we go to talk to them, we find drugs and they go to jail.”
Miya has brown hair and green eyes, and was believed to have been in her parents’ care when she disappeared. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to contact KSP at 270-826-3312.
The story is developing. Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo: Miya Tucker (Rudd)/Kentucky State Police]
