Parents of missing 8-month-old Kentucky girl found dead in Ohio County plead not guilty in court

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The suspects charged in connection to a baby found dead in a Kentucky home pleaded not guilty in court.

The parents of 8-month-old Miya Rudd — Tesla Tucker and Cage Rudd — are charged with abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence, and failure to report a death.

According to Kentucky State Police, investigators found the baby's body hidden inside her family's home in Ohio County on Friday after a week of searching for her in the rural area southeast of Owensboro.

Miya hadn't been seen since last April, but investigators weren't notified of her disappearance until just recently.

KSP said Friday their search that day encompassed multiple locations, including an area of the home's backyard where investigators were looking for any small sign that could be linked to Miya.

Police said investigators were fulfilling search warrant requirements by looking piece by piece, and that they knew they were going to search the family home, which they said was very cluttered, thoroughly. Miya's body was found under debris.

Through their search for Miya, KSP unraveled an alleged drug ring the family was part of. The search for the baby began after troopers went to her parents' home on a welfare check and couldn't find her. Her parents, Tucker and Rudd, were already in custody on charges including drug possession, child abuse and abandonment of a minor.

In total, eight people were charged through the investigation.

In addition to the baby's parents, police also arrested Miya's paternal grandparents, Billie J. Smith and Ricky Smith. Billie Smith was arrested on a warrant related to domestic violence, and Ricky Smith is charged with abandonment of a minor and drug charges.

The baby's maternal grandparents, Taletha Tucker and David Tucker, were recently arrested on unrelated charges out of Daviess County.

KSP said another man, Timothy Roach, was seen throwing un-prescribed suboxone under a vehicle as troopers were entering a driveway. Roach is facing drug charges.

Another arrest was made last Thursday. Brodie Payne is facing numerous drug charges for what KSP said was "his role in the illegal drug operation held at the Rudd residence."

Late Friday, police said they charged Tucker and Rudd, as well as Ricky Smith and Payne, with abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and failure to report a death.

Police said Payne was living in an RV behind the home where the baby's body was found. They also said the home is believed to have been the primary residence of Miya's parents, and that Rudd's parents also lived in the home.

Police have not yet released a cause of death for Miya as the investigation continues.

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