KSP has made another arrest in the course of the investigation into a missing child (updated)

UPDATE: (June 13, 2024) – Police have charged a Reynolds Station man for his role in the illegal drug operation at the Rudds’ residence.

Brodie C. Payne, 28, of Reynolds Station was charged with first-degree drug trafficking (more than 2 grams – methamphetamine); drug trafficking; marijuana trafficking; engaging in organized crime and possession of drug paraphernalia, and first-degree reckless endangerment.

Payne was booked by Kentucky State Police at the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro. The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit (SIU) had initiated a drug trafficking investigation into Payne months earlier. The investigation revealed that Payne was using the USPS to facilitate his drug trafficking. Investigators worked with the US Postal Inspection Service and Kentucky State Police DE/SI and arrested Payne on 05/20/2024 with 1/2 pound of meth and approximately 3/4 pound of pills suspected to be laced with fentanyl.

Payne had lived in the Rudds’ household for about six months before his arrest.

The investigation is ongoing.

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UPDATE: (June 12, 2024) – Kentucky State Police officers today executed a search warrant at the residence of Miya Rudd’s grandparents (Tesla Tucker’s parents) in the 1300 block of Leitchfield Road in Owensboro.

The police could not find baby Miya, but confiscated electronic devices and arrested the two grandparents.

Taletha D. Tucker, 50, of Owensboro was arrested and charged with Fugitive from Out of State – Warrant (Indiana).

David Tucker, 53, of Owensboro was arrested on a warrant for failure to pay in Daviess County, KY.

Both were transported and lodged at the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro. Tesla Tucker’s three children, who were staying with the Tuckers, were transported to another location by the Cabinet of Community Based Services.

The Kentucky State Police investigation is ongoing.

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UPDATE 3: (June 9, 2024) – As officers pulled into the driveway of the Smiths’ home, they observed Timothy L. Roach, 37, of Owensboro throwing 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 second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree possession of a prescription controlled substance in an improper container.

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UPDATE 2: (June 9, 2024) – Police have arrested Miya Rudd’s grandmother, Billie J. (Rudd) Smith, 49, of Reynolds Station, on a warrant for second degree assault – domestic violence. The warrant stems from an incident in Daviess County in October 2023. Police were conducting a search/welfare check on the missing eight-month-old when they discovered there was a warrant out for Mrs. Smith’s arrest.

Miya Rudd could not be found with Billie Smith. Smith was held at the Ohio County Detention Center in Hartford and was held on $25,000 bail.

The investigation is ongoing.

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UPDATE: (June 9, 2024) – Tesla Tucker, Cage Rudd and Ricky Smith (Miya Rudd’s grandfather) are scheduled to appear in Ohio County District Court in Hartford tomorrow at 9 a.m. CST.

Despite tips coming in, troopers have no new information. Kentucky State Police are asking anyone with information about missing eight-month-old Miya Rudd to contact Post 16 at 270-826-3312.

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UPDATE: Additional charges have been filed against the parents of missing Miya (Tucker) Rudd.

Tesla Tucker, 29, of Reynolds Station for first-degree drug trafficking (more than 2 grams – methamphetamine); drug trafficking; marijuana trafficking; first-degree child abuse; abandonment of a minor; engaging in organized crime and possession of paraphernalia.

Cage C. Rudd, 30, of Reynolds Station was guilty of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (more than 2 grams – methamphetamine); trafficking in controlled drugs; trafficking in marijuana; first-degree child abuse; 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 a Controlled Substance 1st Degree (more than 2 grams – methamphetamine); Trafficking in a Controlled Drug; Child Abuse 1st Degree; Abandonment of a Minor; Participation in Organized Criminal Activity; Possession of a Handgun by a Convicted Felon; Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Repeat Offender I.

The Kentucky State Police investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on Miya’s whereabouts is asked to call 270.826.3312.

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REYNOLDS STATION, Kentucky. (June 6, 2024) – Kentucky State Police have launched a missing child investigation in Ohio County following a search warrant and welfare check on 8-month-old Miya Tucker of Reynolds Station.

Police arrested and charged the missing child’s mother, Tesla Tucker, 29, of Reynolds Station, with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), possession of drug paraphernalia and abandonment of a minor. She is being held at the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.

Cage C. Rudd, 30, of Reynolds Station was also arrested and charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl), first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia and abandonment of a minor. He is also being held at the Daviess County Detention Center in Owensboro.

Miya Tucker, 8 months old, of Reynolds Station has brown hair and green eyes. She was last believed to be in the care of her parents, Cage C. Rudd and Tesla Tucker. However, a welfare check failed to locate baby Miya.

Kentucky State Police are asking anyone with information about the missing child to call 270.826.3312.