BOONE COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – A mother and grandparents are facing charges in the death of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller. The case has been raising numerous questions since Kyneddi was found dead April 17 in an emaciated “to a skeletal state” on her bathroom floor.
The day Kyneddi was found dead, her mother Julie Miller was arrested and charged with child neglect resulting in death. She is accused of not seeking help for Kyneddi for years, and law enforcement believe this is what led to the girl’s death.
Julie Miller waived her preliminary hearing on April 29.
A close family member told law enforcement Kyneddi had had an eating disorder and that she had not been eating for months, according to the criminal complaint. The complaint says due to Kyneddi’s physical state, she was unable to function on her own for almost a week before her death. The complaint also alleged Kyneddi had only been outside twice in four years and had not gone to school since either 2019 or 2020.
Family member identifies 14-year-old girl as Kyneddi Miller; Mother still in jail on child neglect causing death charge
Within a week of Kyneddi’s death, the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) released a statement on her passing. The full statement is available here.
Kyneddi’s grandparents, Donna Sue Stone, 76, and Jerry Carter Stone, 75, were arrested on May 20, also on charges of child neglect resulting in death.
Neighbors told 13 News prior to the Stones’ arrest that they knew the grandparents, and they were always respected by other members of the community. They said they never suspected any neglect or abuse in the household. They believe the weight loss came suddenly and believe the family was planning to get her help.
Both Donna and Jerry Stone appeared in court May 30 for their preliminary hearings. Donna Stone waived her preliminary hearing, while Jerry Stone requested to undergo a mental evaluation. Mr. Stone’s request was approved, and his preliminary hearing will take place following the evaluation.
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Miller is in the South Central Regional Jail on a $250,000 bond. On May 30, a judge denied Miller’s request for a bond reduction due to the Stones’ bonds being only $25,000 or 10% cash.
During the bond reduction hearing, court records also showed Julie Miller had allegedly made statements in the past that her daughter had allegedly wanted to die. That information comes from a recorded phone conversation, which Holstein referenced in court. He said Julie Miller allegedly made comments during that phone call that wanted to die, so the mother let her daughter “do what she wanted to do.”
Holstein argued that there was evidence the family had a medical card, so there was no excuse for Kyneddi not to have received medical treatment or proper nutrition when she needed it.
Neighbors told 13 News anonymously after Kyneddi was found dead that they were unaware of the severity of the situation, and they had seen state police making alleged wellness checks.
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According to West Virginia State Police records, a trooper did go to Kyneddi Miller’s residence in March 2023, and in an audio recording obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, the trooper can be heard saying they made contact with the juvenile and she was OK, but they would be referring the case to CPS.
However, the DoHS stated on May 21 that they had no record of a referral from West Virginia State Police, and released a statement saying in part that the “DoHS never received an abuse or neglect referral relating to the death of Kyneddi Miller, and therefore was not involved in the life of this child prior to her passing.”
DoHS Cabinet Secretary Cynthia Persily, Ph.D, said in that statement that the DoHS is aware of information “suggesting that” West Virginia State Police “intended” to make the referral, but “a comprehensive search” of the department’s records “suggest” that referral was allegedly never made.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said in his semi-regular press briefing on May 29 that his office had confirmation that the trooper’s cruiser was on the local CPS parking lot in March 2023, where he reportedly went in to make the referral in person. However, the governor says the workers had no recollection or record of the trooper coming into their office.
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The governor announced on May 31 that state officials would present their findings in the death investigation on June 6, 2024.
On June 5, Julie Miller’s attorneys filed a motion to have the state officials’ press conference stopped. Court documents allege a Child Protective Services investigator was sent to the South Central Regional Jail on June 4 to meet and interview Miller, allegedly questioning her about Kyneddi’s sleeping habits. A correctional officer allegedly told her her attorney was there to speak to her.
Judge Stacy Nowicki-Eldridge has ordered that any communication to Miller must go through her attorneys and not her directly, and if it happens again, there will be criminal prosecution.
The judge also ruled that the press conference on the Julie Miller case is allowed to be held, but officials from Gov. Jim Justice’s office cannot discuss anything a CPS worker got when they allegedly went to talk to Miller at the South Central Regional Jail.
LISTEN: West Virginia State Police refers Kyneddi Miller case to CPS
Miller’s attorneys also alleged in the motion that the state has not given them certain records released to the media through Freedom of Information Act requests.
On May 23, the advocacy group Disability Rights of West Virginia announced its intent to sue Justice, the DoHS, Persily and WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for allegedly concealing documents relating to Kyneddi’s death.
The group alleges the governor’s office and the Department of Human Services have held documents about child abuse cases, investigations and findings that are federally mandated to be publicly disclosed to “evade accountability.” The group says in their letter that the governor’s office and Department of Human Services have threatened “bogus criminal charges,” concealed misconduct, retaliated against journalists and the press, among others, and “prevent ‘appropriate and effective systemic reform’.”
The cease-and-desist letter filed on Thursday, May 23 outlines that state officials, Justice and Persily are allegedly violating the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which Congress amended in 2010 to require states to disclose “information about a case of child abuse or neglect which has resulted in a child fatality or near fatality” to improve accountability for state protective services.
Nonprofit says West Virginia violating federal laws in Kyneddi Miller death case
During a press briefing Friday, May 24, Justice addressed these claims, stating that he is aiming to be both transparent and careful as the investigation is still active.
State officials hosted their briefing Thursday, June 6. They said that when two West Virginia State Police Troopers went to check on Kyneddi Miller in 2023, she told one of them she didn’t want to be around others because she was scared of COVID-19.
Chief of Staff Brian Abraham said this during the governor’s office’s press conference on the findings of an investigation into the handling of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller’s death, who was found in a bathroom “emaciated to a skeletal state” back in April 2024.
He said two troopers said they saw no sign of abuse and she was healthy. They made an informal disclosure to caseworkers at the CPS office. No action was taken because there were no allegations of abuse or neglect, Abraham said.
Miller didn’t want to be around others because of fear of COVID, Abraham says
Abraham said the troopers went to the home because a distant relative had called one of them and expressed concern that Kyneddi had not been seen in public in quite some time.
Although the CPS workers had no recollection of the troopers coming by their office, Abraham said he believed the troopers when they said what they did.
Abraham said the troopers should have made a phone call to the CPS hotline rather than delivering the information in person. The West Virginia State Police has now issued a referendum to all detachments to use a 1-800 number to make a referral.
DoHS to tighten protocol on calling abuse, neglect hotline
Abraham also said that a CPS caseworker who went to the jail to interview Julie Miller to close out the investigatory file gave their credentials and their identification was photocopied at the jail. He called the decision for them to go there “stupid,” and it could’ve been avoided if someone had asked a higher-up. Abraham said it was handled at the worker or county office level.
He said that state policy has been changed since they learned about this information Wednesday night. From now on, CPS workers are instructed not to conduct interviews with prisoners unless a supervisor has authorized it.
Abraham also said lawyers have looked at a possible lawsuit about the disclosure of evidence of child abuse cases and it “misstates federal and state law.”
He made it clear that Thursday’s press briefing would be the last time CPS and the governor’s office will be openly discussing the case.
There are still questions regarding Kyneddi’s lack of school assessments being done, lack of doctor’s visits, and other things that need to be answered.