Kentucky Infant Found Decomposing in Duffel Bag With Debris Piled on Top as Grandfather and Family Accomplice Sentenced, Police Say
REYNOLDS STATION, KENTUCKY — An 8-month-old baby girl who had been reported missing was later found decomposing inside a duffel bag, buried under a “substantial amount of debris” inside her family’s home — a discovery that has now led to prison sentences for two men and the possibility of the death penalty for the child’s parents.
The infant, Miya Rudd, was declared missing on June 6, 2024. Just days later, investigators located her “decomposed” remains inside the cluttered, drug-filled home where multiple adults lived.
Baby’s Body Hidden in Duffel Bag; Home Filled With Drugs, Police Say
Miya’s body was found “hidden in a concealed manner” inside a duffel bag, according to the Kentucky State Police. Officers reported that the home was so contaminated with methamphetamine residue that investigators had to ensure the environment was safe before entering.
Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King described the home as dangerously uninhabitable:
“It was a danger for anyone in there. We had to sanitize the house so investigators wouldn’t overdose while searching.”
The home was allegedly occupied by:
- Ricky Smith, 58 – Miya’s grandfather
- Tesla Tucker, 29 – Miya’s mother
- Cage Rudd, 30 – Miya’s father
- Taletha Tucker, 50 – Miya’s grandmother
- Brodie Payne, 30 – a man living with the family
All except Taletha faced drug trafficking charges tied to meth. Payne had reportedly been living at the residence for six months before his arrest.
Two Defendants Accept Plea Deals, Murder Charges Dismissed
Last week, the child’s grandfather Ricky Smith and family associate Brodie Payne accepted plea agreements that resulted in their murder charges being dismissed.
Both men pleaded guilty to trafficking a controlled substance, with Payne also pleading guilty to wanton endangerment.
Each was sentenced to five years in prison, according to local reporting.
Parents Now Facing Aggravators That Could Bring the Death Penalty
Prosecutors have filed aggravating-circumstance notices for Miya’s mother, Tesla Tucker, and father, Cage Rudd — opening the door to potential death-penalty recommendations if a jury convicts them of murder.
Investigators revealed that methamphetamine was found in Miya’s system, and the level of neglect was extreme. Her decomposition was so advanced that the autopsy could not determine a precise cause of death.
Police say the child’s body was discovered with:
“A substantial amount of debris stacked on top of her.”
Investigators Describe a Scene of Severe Neglect
Authorities said conditions inside and outside the residence were severely cluttered, unsafe, and filled with drug residue and paraphernalia.
The infant’s death is now believed to be part of a larger conspiracy within the home, involving drug-related activity and efforts to conceal the child’s body.
As the case moves forward, the remaining defendants — including Miya’s parents — face some of the most serious penalties allowed under Kentucky law.
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