“Baby Miya’s Law” passes Kentucky House committee

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — The murder of 8-month-old Miya Rudd in Ohio County last year has inspired a bill to protect Kentucky children in abusive situations.

That bill passed committee, and soon the Kentucky House of Representatives will vote on Baby Miya’s Law.

State Representative Scott Lewis (R-Ohio County) is from the area where Baby Miya’s body was found. He’s sponsoring the bill to keep the alleged abuse from ever happening again.

When asked the purpose of the bill, State Representative Lewis says, “There’s guardrails put in place, so that it’s harder for the parents to leave with a baby and not know where they’re going or the condition of the baby or the drug use or so forth.”

Among those guardrails, the law would require anyone to alert authorities and allow the state to intervene when a child is born to parents who already have a neglect or abuse case.

“If this passes and becomes the Baby Miya Bill, hopefully her legacy lives on in that way, and every time that maybe this helps prevent this happening again. She lives on that much more,” State Representative Lewis says.

In June 2024, Kentucky State Police discovered the body of Baby Miya in a duffel bag at her Reynolds Station home.

The child’s parents — Tesla Tucker and Cage Rudd — her grandfather — Rickie Smith — and Brodie Payne are all charged with her murder.

We’re told there were three older siblings that were removed from the parent’s custody prior to Miya’s death.

Police say Miya tested positive from methamphetamine at birth.

“Ever since I heard about it, I’ve been sick to my stomach, wondering the things that I could do to try to make it better,” State Representative Lewis says. “I think this gives us more guidelines and a better chance of stopping these situations.”

State Representative Lewis hopes a vote on the House floor to happen as soon as next week. After the House votes, the Kentucky Senate will vote for approval.