A devastating case of Miya Rudd, an 8-month-old baby girl whose body was located inside a duffel bag last summer, reached a turning point this week as 2 men agreed a plea deals linked to the tragedy.
Miya had disappeared for nearly a year before the local officials made a devastating discovery. The state troopers first looked in on the affected family’s home on June 6, 2024, after concerns that Miya had been missing. Tesla Tucker and Cage Rudd, who were her parent, were arrested same day on drug-related charges. Later that afternoon, the local authorities discovered what they named a meth-trafficking operation inside the house. Ricky Smith, who was Miya’s grandfather, was also arrested.
The officers returned and discovered the baby’s tiny body inside a duffel bag on the 14th of June. Miya had been missing for some time. An operation showed a substance called meth in her system, though her cause of death wasn’t confirmed due to the decomposition of the substance.
Smith and the members of the family, Brodie C. Payne, agreed on a plea deal. Payne and Smith both got a 5-year sentence for drug charges and child endangerment.
The deceased parents are still awaiting trial on severe charges, including murder and abuse of a corpse. Miya’s death has influenced calls for tougher protections for children living in drug-affected homes across Kentucky. For numerous people, her lifetime is now a loss that no family can seek.
