MISSING 8-MONTH OLD BABY; AND HER MOTHER, FATHER, GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER ARE ARRESTED: TESLA TUCKER, 29, CAGE COLE RUDD, 30, RICKY JEFF SMITH, 56, ALL THREE OF REYNOLDS STATION, KENTUCKY; AND BILLIE JO SMITH, 49, OF HARTFORD, KENTUCKY; WERE ARRESTED IN THE DISAPPEARANCE CASE OF MIYA TUCKER.
The Kentucky State Police are conducting an investigation into a case in Ohio County of an 8-month-old baby that is now missing, and have arrested five people, including the baby’s parents and grandparents.
Kentucky State Police Post 16 in the city of Henderson (Henderson County) opened an investigation after they conducted a welfare check at a residence in Reynolds Station, KY., concerning Miya Tucker on Thursday, June 6, and did not find her at the home.
On Tuesday morning, June 11, law enforcement authorities announced that they were conducting a cadaver dog search in an area about half a mile from where she lived with her parents
After state police troopers conducted the welfare check and served a search warrant at the residence, troopers arrested and charged Miya’s mother, Tesla Tucker, 29, Reynolds Station, KY., with:
- POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (FENTANYL),
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS, and
- ABANDONMENT OF MINOR.
Miya Tucker’s father, Cage Cole Rudd, 30, of Reynolds Station, KY., was also arrested and charged with
- POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (FENTANYL),
- POSSESSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE (METHAMPHETAMINE),
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS, and
- ABANDONMENT OF MINOR. Cage Rudd was additionally charged while being placed in jail with:
- PROMOTING CONTRABAND – 1ST DEGREE.
On Friday, June 7, both Tesla Tucker, and Cage Rudd were hit with additional charges including:
- TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE),
- TRAFFICKING IN LEGEND DRUGS 1ST OFFENSE,
- TRAFFICKING IN MARIJUANA ( LESS THAN 8 OZ.) 1ST OFFENSE,
- CRIMINAL ABUSE 1ST DEGREE-CHILD 12 OR UNDER,
- ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIME,
- ABANDONMENT OF MINOR, and
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS.
Also on Friday, Miya Tucker’s grandfather, Ricky Jeff Smith, 56. of Reynolds Station, KY., was charged with:
- TRAFFICKING IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 1ST DEGREE, 1ST OFFENSE – (< 2 GRAMS METHAMPHETAMINE),
- TRAFFICKING IN LEGEND DRUGS 1ST OFFENSE,
- TRAFFICKING IN MARIJUANA ( LESS THAN 8 OUNCES) 1ST OFFENSE,
- CRIMINAL ABUSE 1ST DEGREE-CHILD 12 OR UNDER,
- ENGAGING IN ORGANIZED CRIME,
- ABANDONMENT OF MINOR,
- DRUG PARAPHERNALIA – BUY/POSSESS,
- POSSESSION OF HANDGUN BY CONVICTED FELON,
- POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY CONVICTED FELON, and
- PERSISTENT FELONY OFFENDER I. Ricky Smith also was served two court bench warrants, each one for a count of:
- FAILURE TO APPEAR; plus in addition, Ricky Smith was hit with another warrant on the charge of:
- PAROLE VIOLATION (FOR FELONY OFFENSE).
On Sunday, June 9, Miya’s grandmother, Billie Jo Smith, 49, was arrested by Kentucky State Police and was charged with:
- ASSAULT, 2ND DEGREE – DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; a charges she was also arrested on October 2, 2023 by the Owensboro Police Department
Law enforcement authorities said Miya Tucker was not with her grandmother Billie Jo Smith.
Also that same Sunday evening, state troopers arrested Timothy Lee Roach, 37, of Owensboro, KY., after he allegedly went to the Smith’s residence and threw unprescribed suboxone under a vehicle. Timothy Roach was charged with:
- POSSESSSION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, 2ND DEGREE (DRUG UNSPECIFIED), and
- PRESCRIPTION CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE NOT PROPER CONTAINER 1ST OFFENSE.
Tesla Tucker and Timothy Lee Roach were both transported to and lodged in the Ohio County Detention Center in Hartford, KY., whereupon Tesla Tucker is currently being held on $620,000 full cash bond only. Timothy Roach has since posted his bond and has been released from the jail.
Cage Cole Rudd, Ricky Jeff Smith ,and Billie Jo Smith were transported to the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro, KY. Cage Rudd is currently being held on a $123,000 full cash only bond, and Ricky Jeff Smith is currently being held on a $105,500 full cash only bond. Billie Jo Smith has since been released from the jail after she posted her $25,000 full cash bond.
The Kentucky State Police Post 16 gave a description of Miya Tucker as having brown hair and green eyes.
Anyone with information regarding the missing baby Miya Tucker, can contact the Kentucky State Police Post 16 at 270-826-3312.
