Grandparents among five arrested after eight month-old baby girl vanishes without a trace

The parents and grandparents of a missing girl have been arrested as Kentucky police continue to search for the eight-month-old girl.

Miya Tucker was reported missing last week after state troopers conducted a welfare check at her parents’ home in Ohio County and the child was nowhere to be found.

The baby had not been seen by her family “since late April,” an arrest warrant showed. Police say she was last suspected to be in the care of her mother Tesla Tucker, 29, and father Cage Rudd, 30.

The family members were not charged with crimes directly related to baby Miya’s disappearance.

Cadaver dogs were brought to the family’s home on Tuesday to search the grounds and nearby woods, but there were no signs of Miya. Police have now said they have “no evidence that she is dead, but also no evidence that she is alive.”

Police say Miya was last suspected to be in the care of her mother Tesla Tucker, 29, (left) and father Cage Rudd (right). Tucker and Rudd, 30, were arrested June 6 at Motel 6 in Owensboro, about 25 miles from their home in Reynolds Station, on multiple drug charges and child abandonment of a minor.

Miya’s parents were arrested last Thursday on child abandonment and drug charges after police found them in a Motel 6 room with drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, “in plain sight.” WFIE TV reported.

Her grandparents Ricky J. Smith and Billie J. Smith, as well as another man, Timothy L. Roach, have also been arrested in connection with the investigation.

Tucker and Rudd were arrested June 6 at the motel in Owensboro, about 25 miles from their home in Reynolds Station, on multiple drug charges and abandonment of a minor.

Corey King, a Kentucky State Police trooper, told the TV station that the parents had been caught in possession of a large amount of drugs and had no information about Miya’s whereabouts.

He added that they were “not very cooperative with our investigation.”

The next day, officials filed additional drug-related charges against the couple, as well as felony counts of first-degree child abuse and involvement in organized crime.

Police also arrested Ricky Smith, who had been living with the couple, on June 7 on charges of drug trafficking, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of a minor and other drug and firearms charges.

Investigators believe he used the couple’s home as a base for drug trafficking. Fox news reported.

The trio were all held at the Daviess County Detention Center and appeared for arraignment in Ohio County District Court on Monday.

Miya’s grandparents Ricky J. Smith (left) and Billie J. Smith (right) have been arrested in connection with the investigation

Police also arrested Timothy L. Roach (pictured) at Billie Smith’s home after officers saw him throwing “unprescribed” opioids under his car. Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a prescription controlled substance not in proper container

Miya’s grandmother, Billie J. Smith, 49, was arrested Friday after police went to her home to look for the missing child and discovered she had an outstanding warrant dating back to October 2023.

She has been charged with second-degree domestic violence and was being held at the Ohio County Detention Center. She was released Tuesday afternoon on a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Police also arrested Timothy L. Roach at the grandmother’s home after officers saw him throw “unprescribed” opioids under his car.

Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a prescription controlled substance not in proper container.

He says we also took him to the Ohio County Detention Center The Louisville Courier Journal. It is unclear what his relationship with the family is.

Kentucky State Police removed Miya’s three older siblings from Tucker and Rudd’s home a while ago.

Miya, whose umbilical cord tested positive for meth after her birth in October, was expected to join her siblings on May 30.

However, other family members contacted police after not seeing the girl since late April.

When officials found the girl’s parents, they claimed Miya had been taken by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, but police say that is not true.

Kentucky State Police removed Miya’s three older siblings from Tucker and Rudd’s home a while ago. The couple is pictured with one of their children

Investigators, with the help of cadaver dogs, spent several hours Tuesday searching about five hectares of woods near the couple’s home, but found no trace of missing Miya. Police have now said they have ‘no evidence that she is dead, but also no evidence that she is alive’

Investigators, with the help of cadaver dogs, spent several hours Tuesday searching about five hectares of woods for the missing girl.

But on Tuesday afternoon, Miya was still missing. Police claim there is “no information that anyone has her, that they have sold this child or that this child has been kidnapped.”

Trooper King launched an appeal for any information on her whereabouts, pleading, “If anyone is holding her for them, please come forward.” You won’t have any problems.’

He said investigators remain “hopeful and optimistic,” but the longer Miya remains missing, the grimmer the outcome will be.

King added, “Everyone is looking for closure. I believe the community deserves this. The family deserves, and we as the agency investigating this, deserve to know what happened to baby Miya.”