OHIO COUNTY, Ky. — Following the death of 8-month-old Miya Rudd, a new petition advocates for a law to protect young babies, which nearly 8,000 people have signed so far. 

What You Need To Know

  • Eight-month-old Miya Rudd was found dead June 14 in the home of her parents, Cage Rudd and Tesla Tucker

  • In the wake of her death, a new petition is advocating for a law to protect young babies 

  • The petition is online and nearly 8,000 people have signed it so far 

  • Rudd and Tucker had other children taken away due to unsafe conditions

Eric Williams, who started the petition, said he didn't expect to get that many signatures.

“It looks like we’re almost at 7,500," Williams said. 

The petition is in response to Rudd's death, who was found dead in the home of her parents, Cage Rudd and Tesla Tucker. The couple also had other children taken away due to unsafe conditions and drug activity.

Rudd and Tucker were arrested earlier this month on a number of charges, including criminal abuse of a child and drug trafficking.

“Obviously, it’s a heart-wrenching situation," Williams said. 

Williams’ petition confronts these circumstances and said the state should incorporate what he calls “Miya’s Law.”

The proposal aims to prevent parents who have lost custody of their children and cannot regain that custody from keeping newly born babies. The law would make the parents prove they are clean and can provide the baby with a safe home environment before getting custody of their newborn.

"If you were unsafe for whatever reason previously, you need to complete whatever programs necessary to prove yourself again, your credibility, so-to-speak," Williams said. 

This could include proof of stable employment, a drug test and a home visit, which Williams said would protect the lives of vulnerable children.

"It's just another safety measure to say, ‘Hey, we’re not releasing this baby with somebody who has already been identified as somebody who is dangerous to their previous children,'" Williams said. 

Lynn Hulsey, assistant director of the Family Enrichment Center, said protecting children from abuse can improve their lives later on. The center is a nonprofit that helps prevent child abuse. 

“They’ll have a better chance of not being incarcerated, completing school, not living in poverty," Hulsey said. "It’s just so amazing how important those first few years are.”

As of Thursday evening, June 27, the petition is a little more than 50 signatures away from reaching its next goal of 7,500. 

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