Grandparents, parents among 5 arrested in 8-month-old baby's mysterious disappearance

2024-12-24 03:03:25 source: category:Contact-us

An 8-month-old baby who disappeared in Kentucky remained missing Tuesday and five people including the child's grandmother and parents have been arrested in connect to her disappearance.

Kentucky State Police reported Miya Tucker missing after troopers conducted a welfare check and search warrant June 6 at a home in Ohio County and did not find her.

The baby, who lived in Reynolds Station, has not been seen by her family "since the end of April," according to an arrest citation obtained by the Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Reynold's Station is an unincorporated community in northwest Kentucky, just south of the Indiana state line.

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Miya's parents, Tesla Tucker and Cale Rudd, grandfather, due in court

According to a news release from troopers, officials arrested the child parents −Tesla Tucker and Cale Rudd − on June 6 on multiple felony drug charges and abandonment of a minor.

The following day, officials filed additional drug-related charges against Tucker, 29, and Rudd, 30, as well as charges of first-degree child abuse and engaging in organized crime, both felonies.

Rudd is also facing felony gun charges, troopers said.

Also on June 7, Miya’s grandfather, Ricky Smith, was arrested on charges of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine), trafficking in marijuana, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of a minor, and other felony drug and gun charges.

Online Ohio County jail records did not have Smith listed as an inmate Tuesday.

Miya's parents were being held in the Daviess County Detention Center in Owenboro and, along with the child's grandfather, were scheduled to appear in Ohio County District Court on Monday, troopers said.

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Miya Tucker's grandmother also arrested

On Sunday, troopers reported they took Miya's grandmother, Billie J. Smith of Reynolds Station into custody on a second-degree domestic violence assault charge.

The 49-year-old woman was arrested after troopers found an active warrant for her arrest while conducting a search and welfare check for the missing child at her home. The warrant stems from an alleged domestic violence incident reported in October.

She was booked into the Ohio County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond. Online records did not have her listed as an inmate on Tuesday.

A fifth person, Timothy Roach of Owensboro, was also arrested and faces multiple drug charges after troopers allegedly saw him throw "unprescribed" opioids under his vehicle in the driveway of Billie Smith's residence Sunday, according to an updated release.

Roach was taken to the detention center Monday. Online jail records did not have him listed as an inmate Tuesday.

It was not immediately known if any of the child's family arrested in connection to her disappearance had obtained attorneys.

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What does baby Miya Tucker look like?

Troopers described the baby having brown hair and green eyes.

She was last suspected to be in the care of her parents, according to the release.

Anyone with information about Miya's whereabouts is aske to contact Kentucky troopers.

Contributing: Leo Bertucci with the Courier Journal.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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