OHIO COUNTY, Ky. — Following the death of an 8-month-old baby in Ohio County, Tesla Tucker, Cage Rudd and Ricky Smith — the girl’s parents and grandfather — were all arraigned June 17.

Tucker and Rudd, an Ohio County couple, are facing a number of charges related to the death of their 8-month-old daughter, Miya Rudd. They include abuse of a corpse, tampering with physical evidence and failure to report the death of a person. The first two charges are Class D felonies in Kentucky.

“It actually is one of those cases that highlights what drugs and addiction can do to families and communities," said Kentucky State Trooper Corey King. 

King has been part of the investigation to find Miya, who hadn’t been seen since the end of April.

Investigators were able to track down Tucker and Rudd at a motel outside Owensboro, King said. 

"And that ultimately started this search of, ‘Where is baby Miya?'" King said. 

That question has been answered. Investigators found Miya June 14 inside their dilapidated home.

8-month-old Miya Rudd is missing and her parents and grandparents have been arrested and charged with several things including child abandonment. Dogs were brought in for the search on June 12, 2024. (Kentucky State Police)

“This baby had been deceased," King said. "I’m not sure how long, but it seemed like quite some time.”

Kentucky State Police detectives said when they found 8-month-old Miya’s body, it was hidden in a black Adidas duffle bag in the front of the home.

King added child protective services had removed children from the home prior to this investigation. This was due to the squaller inside of the house and the drug activity.

“You have a lot of residual coming from inside that house, from methamphetamine to fentanyl," King said. 

For neighbors such as Charles Oelze, who is also a parent, it’s terrifying for him and his family that a helpless baby passed away blocks away from their house.

“My son is actually the same age as Miya was, and I couldn’t believe that something like that would happen down the road," Oelze said. 

King said the case is centered around drug addiction.

“If you are addicted, get help because that will control you," he said. "The addiction will always take over. It will impact everyone else in your life.”

Eight people, including grandparents, have been arrested on a number of charges in this case. An autopsy is being performed in Louisville.