Grand Jury Indictment Following Tragic Death
A grand jury in West Virginia has indicted a mother and her two parents on murder charges in connection with the death of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller. The girl was found in her Boone County home in April, severely emaciated and in an alarming physical state. The indictment, returned on Tuesday, accuses the three of failing to provide necessities that ultimately led to the girl’s death.
The defendants, Julie Miller (the mother), and Donna and Jerry Stone (the grandparents), are charged with murder of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian, and child neglect resulting in death. An arraignment is scheduled for October 18.
Discovery of Emaciated Body
Kyneddi Miller’s body was discovered by deputies responding to a call in Morrisvale, West Virginia, in April. The criminal complaint revealed that the teen, found in a bathroom, was “emaciated to a skeletal state.” The 14-year-old had been suffering from an eating disorder, but no medical care had been sought for her in at least four years.
At the time of her death, Kyneddi was being homeschooled. Prosecutors allege that her deteriorating condition had been “overwhelmingly visible,” yet her caregivers neglected to act.
Murder and Neglect Charges Filed
Initially, Julie Miller and her parents were charged with felony child neglect. However, the grand jury’s indictment on Tuesday added the more severe charge of murder by failure to supply necessary care. Boone County Prosecutor Dan Holstein confirmed the charges, noting that the full indictment would be made public on Wednesday.
Investigation Into Child Protective Services’ Role
Kyneddi Miller’s death has sparked concerns about possible failures by child protective services and law enforcement. According to Brian Abraham, Chief of Staff to Governor Jim Justice, state police visited the Miller home in March 2023, just a month before the girl’s death. The trooper did not observe signs of abuse and informally suggested the family seek mental health resources, but no follow-up checks were made.
Governor Justice called the teen’s death a tragedy, remarking that she had “fallen through the cracks.” In response, the state Department of Human Services now mandates that potential abuse cases be formally documented through an intake hotline to ensure proper follow-up.
Legislative Responses
Some lawmakers have called for changes to the state’s homeschooling laws in light of this and other tragedies. House Democrats have pushed for “Raylee’s Law,” which would delay or deny requests to homeschool if a teacher reports suspected abuse. The law is named after Raylee Browning, an 8-year-old girl who died in 2018 after being withdrawn from school by her parents following reports of abuse.
However, efforts to pass such legislation have stalled in the Republican-controlled Legislature. State Senator Patricia Rucker, a former public school teacher and homeschooling advocate, argues that blaming homeschooling laws for these deaths is “misguided,” and shifts attention away from under-resourced child protective services.
