Miya Rudd, 8 months old, of Reynolds Station, is missing. Call KSP Post 16 with any information.
**UPDATE** OWENSBORO, Ky. (11/6/23) — Kentucky State Police detectives charged Taletha D. Tucker, 50, of Owensboro, with additional charges stemming from the Miya Rudd investigation.
Taletha Tucker has been charged with first-degree criminal abuse -child under 12; controlled substance endangerment to child; and first-degree hindering prosecution or apprehension.
Taletha D. Tucker
The investigation determined Taletha Tucker, who was given custody of Tesla Tucker’s children, violated a court order established by the Department of Community-Based Services before this investigation was launched. During the investigation, a hair follicle sample was taken from each child and two of the three children returned positive for methamphetamine and cannabis. It is believed Taletha Tucker permitted the children to stay with Tesla Tucker in Reynolds Station which violated the order and came in contact with the substances.
The investigation also determined that Taletha Tucker provided a large sum of money to Tesla Tucker and Cage Rudd in an effort to avoid apprehension from law enforcement at the beginning of this investigation.
KSP investigators are still actively investigating this case. Detectives are awaiting the Medical Examiners Report and the results from Miya Rudd.
**UPDATE** (6/14/24) — The KSP charged four people in connection to the deceased body discovered in today’s search.
Tesla Tucker, 29, of Reynolds Station; Cage C. Rudd, 30, of Reynolds Station; Ricky J. Smith, 56, of Reynolds Station and Brodie C. Payne, 28, of Reynolds Station, were all charged with abuse of a corpse; tampering with physical evidence and failure of person to report the death of a person.
**UPDATE** (6/14/24) REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — Kentucky State Police Detectives located an infant’s body consistent with Miya Rudd at 1:15 p.m. today. The decomposed body was located inside the residence hidden in a concealed manner.
After investigators process the scene the baby will be taken by the Ohio County Coroner’s Office and transported to the Kentucky Medical Examiners Office in Louisville.
The investigation is ongoing by KSP, Ohio County Coroner’s Officer and Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office.
**UPDATE** (6/13/24) REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — Kentucky State Police Troopers charged a Reynolds Station man for his role in the illegal drug operation held at the Rudd residence.
Brodie C. Payne, 28, of Reynolds Station, was charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine); trafficking of a legend drug; trafficking in marijuana; engaging in organized crime; possession of drug paraphernalia; first-degree wanton endangerment.
Payne was served by the KSP at the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.
Daviess County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit started a drug trafficking investigation on Payne months prior. The investigation revealed Payne was using USPS to facilitate his drug trafficking operation. Investigators coordinated with U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Kentucky State Police DE/SI and arrested Payne May 20 with 1/2 lb of methamphetamine and around 3/4 lb of suspected fentanyl-laced pills.
Payne had resided at the Rudd household for approximately six months before his arrest.
The investigation is ongoing.
**UPDATE** (6/12/24) REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — Kentucky State Police troopers executed a search warrant today at Miya Rudd’s grandparents’ residence, Tesla Tucker’s parents, in the 1300 block of Leitchfield Road in Owensboro.
Troopers did not locate baby Miya; however, troopers seized electronics and arrested both grandparents.
Taletha D. Tucker, 50, of Owensboro, was arrested and charged with an Indiana warrant for fugitive from another state.
David Tucker, 53, of Owensboro, was arrested for a non-payment warrant issued in Daviess County.
Both were transported and lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro. Tesla Tucker’s three children, who were residing with the Tuckers, were removed by the Cabinet of Community Based Services to another location.
The investigation is ongoing by the KSP.
**UPDATE** (6/10/24) REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — As troopers were entering the driveway to the Smith residence, troopers saw Timothy L. Roach, 37, of Owensboro, throw unprescribed Suboxone under his vehicle. He was also arrested along with Billie J. Smith and taken to the Ohio County Detention Center in Hartford.
Timohty L. Roach
Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and prescription controlled substance not in the proper container.
**UPDATE** (6/9/24) REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — Troopers have served and arrested the grandmother of Miya Rudd, Billie J. (Rudd) Smith, 49, of Reynolds Station, with a second-degree assault (domestic violence) warrant. The warrant stems from an incident in Daviess County in October of 2023. Troopers were conducting a search/welfare check for the missing eight-month-old Miya Rudd when they discovered Billie Smith had an active warrant.
Billie J. Smith
Miya Rudd was not located with Billie Smith. Billie Smith was lodged in the Ohio County Detention Center in Hartford on a $25,000 cash bond.
The investigation is ongoing.
**UPDATE** (6/9/24) REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — Tesla Tucker, Cage Rudd and Ricky Smith, the grandfather of Miya Rudd, are set to appear in Ohio County District Court in Hartford tomorrow, June 9, at 9 a.m. CST.
Although tips are coming in, troopers do not have any new updates.
KSP Post 16 requests anyone with knowledge of missing eight-month-old Miya Rudd to contact Post 16 at 270-826-3312.
**UPDATE** (6/7/24) REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — Additional charges have been filed against the parents of missing Miya (Tucker) Rudd.
Tesla Tucker, 29 of Reynolds Station with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine); trafficking of legend drugs; trafficking in marijuana; first-degree child abuse; abandonment of a minor; engaging in organized crime; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Cage C. Rudd, 30, of Reynolds Station, was first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine); trafficking of legend drugs; trafficking in marijuana; first-degree child abuse; abandonment of a minor; engaging in organized crime; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ricky J. Smith, 56 of Reynolds Station was arrested and charged with first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (methamphetamine); trafficking of legend 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 felony offender I.
The investigation is ongoing by Kentucky State Police and requests anyone with information regarding Miya’s whereabouts to contact Post 16 at 270-826-3312.
Original Story
Tesla Tucker
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. — Kentucky State Police has opened a missing child investigation in Ohio County after a search warrant and welfare check on Miya Tucker, 8 months old, of Reynolds Station, was conducted.
Troopers arrested and charged the mother of the missing child, Tesla Tucker, 29, of Reynolds Station, with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl); possession of drug paraphernalia and abandonment of a minor. Tesla Tucker is lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.
Cage C. Rudd, 30, of Reynolds Station, was also arrested and charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl); first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine); possession of drug paraphernalia and abandonment of a minor. Rudd is also lodged in Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.
Miya Tucker, 8 months old, of Reynolds Station, has brown hair and green eyes. She was last suspected to be in the care of her parents, Cage C. Rudd and Tesla Tucker; however, baby Miya could not be found during the welfare check.
Kentucky State Police asks anyone with information regarding the missing child to contact Post 16 at 270-826-3312.