UPDATE: Kentucky State Police Searching for Missing Child in Ohio County
***UPDATE***
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (November 6, 2024) – 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 the following:
1) Criminal Abuse 1st Degree – Child under 12.
2) Controlled Substance Endangerment to Child.
3) Hindering Prosecution or Apprehension – 1st Degree
The investigation determined Taletha Tucker, who was given custody of Tesla Tuckers children, violated a court order established by Department of Community Based Services before this investigation was launched. During this investigation, a hair follicle sample was taken from each child which 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 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.
Kentucky State Police investigatiors are still actively investigating this case. Detectives are awaiting the Medical Examiners Report and the results from Miya Rudd.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 14, 2024) – Troopers have charged four people in connection to the deceased body discovered in todays 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.
Additional charges are likely as the investigation is ongoing.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 14, 2024) – Kentucky State Police detectives located an infants body consistent with Miya Rudd at 1:15 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 Kentucky State Police, Ohio County Coroner’s Officer and Kentucky Medical Examiners Office.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 13, 2024) – 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 Trafficking in Controlled Substance, 1st Degree (Greater than 2 grams – Methamphetamine); Trafficking of Ledgend Drugs; Trafficking Marijuana; Engaging in Organized Crime and Possession of Paraphernalia and Wanton Endangerment – 1st Degree.
Payne was served by Kentucky State Police at the Daviess County Dentention Center in Owensboro. Daviess County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) 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 on 05/20/2024 with 1/2 lb of meth and approximately 3/4 lb of suspected fentanyl laced pills.
Payne had been residing at the Rudd household for approximately six months prior to his arrest.
The investigation is ongoing.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 12, 2024) – Kentucky State Police troopers executed a search warrant today at Miya Rudd’s grandparents residence (Tesla Tuckers 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 Fugative from Another State – Warrant (Indiana).
David Tucker, 53 of Owensboro was arrested for a non-payment warrant issued in Daviess County, KY.
Both were transported and lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro. Tesla Tuckers three children, who were residing with the Tuckers, were removed by the Cabinet of Community Based Services to another location.
The investigation is on-going by Kentucky State Police.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 9, 2024) – As troopers were entering the driveway to the Smith residence, troopers observed 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.
Roach was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, 2nd Degree and Prescription Controlled Substance Not in Proper Container, 1st Degree.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 9, 2024) – Troopers have served and arrested the grandmother of Miya Rudd, Billie J. (Rudd) Smith, 49 of Reynolds Station with an Assault 2nd Degree – Domestic Violence warrant. The warrant stems from an incident in Daviess County on October of 2023. Troopers were conducting a search/welfare check for the missing eight-month old when they discovered Mrs. Smith had an active warrant.
Miya Rudd was not located with Billie Smith. Smith was lodged in the Ohio County Detention Center in Hartford held on a $25,000 cash bond.
The investigation is on-going.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 9, 2024) – Tesla Tucker, Cage Rudd and Ricky Smith (the grandfather of Miya Rudd) are to appear in Ohio County District Court in Hartford tomorrow at 9am CST.
Although tips are coming in, troopers do not have any new updates. Kentucky State Police are requesting anyone with knowledge of missing eight-month old Miya Rudd to contact Post 16 at 270-826-3312.
Previous News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 6, 2024) – Additional charges have been filed against the parents of missing Miya (Tucker) Rudd.
Tesla Tucker, 29 of Reynolds Station with Trafficking in Controlled Substance, 1st Degree (Greater than 2 grams – Methamphetamine); Trafficking of Ledgend Drugs; Trafficking Marijuana; Child Abuse 1st; Abandonment of a Minor; Engaging in Organized Crime and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Cage C. Rudd, 30 of Reynolds Station was Trafficking in Controlled Substance, 1st Degree (Greater than 2 grams – Methamphetamine); Trafficking of Ledgend Drugs; Trafficking Marijuana; Child Abuse 1st; Abandonment of a Minor; Engaging in Organized Crime and Possession of Paraphernalia.
Ricky J. Smith, 56 of Reynolds Station was arrested and charged with Trafficking in Controlled Substance, 1st Degree (Greater than 2 grams – Methamphetamine); Trafficking of Ledgend Drugs; Child Abuse 1st; 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 Felon Offender I.
The investigation is on-going by Kentucky State Police and requests anyone with information regarding Miya’s whereabouts to contact 270.826.3312
Original News Release below:
REYNOLDS STATION, Ky. (June 6, 2024) – Kentucky State Police has opened a missing child investigation in Ohio County after a search warrant and welfare check concerning 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 Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree (Fentanyl); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Abandonment of a Minor. She is lodged in the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.
Cage C. Rudd, 30 of Reynolds Station was also arrested and charged with Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree (Fentanyl); Possession of Controlled Substance 1st Degree (Methamphetamine); Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Abandonment of a Minor. He 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 is requesting anyone with information regarding the missing child to contact post at 270.826.3312.
###
