LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The search for the missing 8-month-old continues as a total of five people have now been arrested.
Kentucky State Police (KSP) said they opened a missing child investigation on Thursday, June 6 after a search warrant and welfare check concerning Miya Rudd, of Reynolds Station, was conducted.
Miya hasn't been seen by the family since the end of April, according to a police report.
KSP said they arrested the parents of the missing infant, 29-year-old Tesla Tucker and 30-year-old Cage Rudd, at a Super 8 in Owensboro on Wednesday, June 5. Miya wasn't with them and neither parent knew where the baby girl was. Police added that Tucker and Rudd were found with a "large amount of drugs."
They are both charged with first-degree trafficking in controlled substance (greater than 2 grams - methamphetamine), trafficking of ledgend drugs, trafficking marijuana, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of a minor and engaging in organized crime and possession of paraphernalia.
The parents are currently booked at the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.
Court documents show that Tesla told Miya's maternal grandmother, who has custody of all Tesla's children, that social workers and officers went to Tesla's home on May 1 and removed Miya. However, authorities confirmed that no social workers or police had gone to her home to remove the infant.
Miya's grandfather, 56-year-old Ricky Smith, was also arrested and charged with first-degree trafficking in controlled substance (greater than 2 grams - methamphetamine), trafficking of ledgend drugs, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of a minor, engaging in organized crime, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and persistent felon offender I.
Three days later, police arrested Miya's grandmother, 49-year-old Billie Smith, on second-degree assault with a domestic violence warrant. Officers said the warrant stems from an incident in Daviess County on October 2023. Troopers were conducting a search/welfare check for the missing 8-month-old when they discovered Billie had an active warrant.
Miya was not found with Billie.
Billie is currently booked at the Ohio County Detention Center, and being held on a $25,000 cash bond.
As police were entering the driveway to the Smith's home, they said they saw 37-year-old Timothy Roach throw unprescribed Suboxone under his vehicle.
He was also arrested alongside Billie and taken to the Ohio County Detention Center.
Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree prescription controlled substance not in a proper container.
Miya is described as having brown hair and green eyes. She was last suspected to be in the care of her parents, Tesla and Rudd.
KSP is requesting anyone with information regarding the missing child to contact them immediately at (270) 826-3312.
The investigation is ongoing.
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