3 charged after disappearance of infant in Ohio County appear in court

OHIO COUNTY, Ky. – Three people connected to the disappearance of an 8-month-old from Ohio County appeared in court Monday morning.

The infant’s parents, Tesla Tucker and Cage Rudd, along with Ricky Smith, appeared before a judge in Daviess County this morning, according to court documents.

Its been reported Smith is the infant’s grandfather.

The infant, identified by Kentucky State Police Post 14 as 8-month-old Miya Rudd, is still at the center of a missing child investigation. In a uniform citation, troopers say the child has not been seen since the end of April.

Rudd and Tucker were each arrested Wednesday at a Super 8 motel in Owensboro, Kentucky on multiple charges, including abandonment of a minor and possession of fentanyl, court documents state. On this date, troopers say both parents stated during preliminary interviews that they did not know where the child was.

Troopers say they began investigating after responding for a welfare check and search warrant.

In a release by KSP, troopers announced two additional arrests in Ohio County on charges related to separate incidents.

These include the infant’s grandmother, identified as Billie J. (Rudd) Smith, on a second-degree domestic violence warrant, as well as Timothy L. Roach on second-degree possession of a controlled substance and first-degree prescription controlled substance not in a proper container charges.

Troopers say they arrested the grandmother and Roach while searching for Miya Rudd.

The investigation is ongoing. News 40 will continue to provide updates as further information becomes available.

KSP is requesting anyone with information regarding the missing child to contact post at 270.826.3312.