LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Four people charged in the death of an 8-month-old Kentucky girl pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
Miya Rudd's parents — 29-year-old Tesla Tucker and 30-year-old Cage Rudd — are charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and failure to report a death.
Last month, Kentucky State Police found the baby's remains inside a duffle bag in her family's home in Reynolds Station after a week of searching through Ohio County.
Investigators said the home was in deplorable condition, with drugs in plain view.
The baby hadn't been seen since April, and investigators said the search for her led police to uncover a drug ring her family was part of.
Miya Rudd's paternal grandfather, 56-year-old Ricky Smith, and another man, 28-year-old Brodie Payne, were also charged with abuse of a corpse.
The four suspects were arraigned in court Tuesday after being indicted on June 20, where they pleaded not guilty. They're each being held on $250,000 cash bonds, according to online court records.
Authorities have not yet provided a cause of death for Miya Rudd. Her paternal grandmother, Billie J. Smith, and maternal grandparents Taletha and David Tucker, were also arrested. Smith was arrested on a warrant related to domestic violence. The Tuckers were arrested on unrelated charges out of Daviess County.
Previous Coverage:
- 4 indicted in connection to death of missing 8-month-old Kentucky girl found dead in Ohio County
- Decomposed body of missing 8-month-old Kentucky girl found in rural home, state police say
- KSP makes another arrest related to missing 8-month-old in Ohio County
- KSP arrests grandparents of missing 8-month-old in Ohio County on unrelated warrants
- KSP continues search for missing 8-month-old baby in Ohio County
- Kentucky State Police searching for missing 8-month-old child in Ohio County
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