On Tuesday, Kentucky State Police used cadaver dogs to inspect a wooded area near the house of missing 8-month-old Miya Tucker, but as night approached, they found nothing.
Five Arrested in Connection with Missing 8-Month-Old
There is no evidence that the child is dead, but there is no proof that she is alive, according to Kentucky State Police Trooper Corey King.
The girl's parents, Tesla Tucker, 29, and Cage Rudd, 30; grandparents Billie J. Smith, 49, and Ricky J. Smith, 56; and a fifth person, Timothy L. Roach, have been seized in relation to the case. The Smiths and the parents are from the Reynolds Station area, while Roach is from Owensboro, according to police.
It's ambiguous if the suspects have legal representation. The public defender's office didn't instantly answer requests for comment. Some of the suspects came in court on Monday, but the details were not revealed. More court hearings are scheduled for Wednesday.
After administering a welfare check and performing a search warrant, authorities seized Tucker and accused her of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of drug paraphernalia, and abandonment of an infant.
Miya's father was also seized and accused of first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), first-degree ownership of the controlled substances (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, and abandonment of an undocumented infant.
On Friday, Tucker and Rudd faced added liabilities, including first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (more than 2 grams of methamphetamine), trafficking in legend drugs, trafficking in marijuana, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of an infant, engaging in organized crime, and possession of paraphernalia.
That same day, Miya's grandfather Ricky Smith was accused of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (more than 2 grams of methamphetamine), trafficking in legend drugs, trafficking in marijuana, first-degree child abuse, abandonment of an infant, engaging in organized crime, possession of paraphernalia, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and continuous felon offender I.
A second-degree domestic violence assault charge was filed against Smith, who is 49 years old.
Authorities verified that Miya was not with her grandmother. Additionally, they arrested Timothy L. Roach, 37, that evening after he allegedly visited the Smiths' residence and threw unprescribed suboxone under a vehicle.
Roach was charged with second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a prescription drug not stored in a proper container.
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Authorities Are Searching for Missing 8-Month-Old Miya Tucker
King informed that a family member reported Miya had not been seen since late April. Although he was frustrated that those closest to Miya had the least amount of information for investigators.
He said Miya's umbilical cord tested positive for methamphetamine at birth in October. She has three older siblings who were removed from the household due to alleged drug issues.
The state Cabinet for Health and Family Services planned to remove Miya from the household as well, but her parents claimed she had already been taken by the cabinet, which King said is not true.
King, a spokesperson for state police in Reynolds Station, about 90 miles southwest of Louisville, stated investigators still hope Miya might be found alive.
However, he warned, "The longer this goes, the more grim of an outcome this will be."
Troopers described the baby as having brown hair and green eyes. She was last believed to be in the care of her parents, according to the release.
Anyone with information on Miya's whereabouts is urged to contact Kentucky troopers.
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