Kyneddi Miller, 14, was found dead on April 17, 2024, on a foam pad on the bathroom floor of her home in Morrisvale, Boone County, West Virginia. Her body was described as "emaciated to a skeletal state." According to her grandmother, the girl had not attended school since late 2019 or early 2020, had been outside the house only about two times in the last four years, had not eaten for months, and had received no medical treatment for at least four years. Her mother, Julie Anne Stone Miller, and two grandparents were charged with child neglect resulting in death; all pleaded not guilty. Despite state officials initially claiming CPS had no knowledge of the child, a whistleblower letter and state police records revealed CPS referrals in 2009 and 2017, and a state trooper welfare check and CPS referral in March 2023, exposing significant failures in the child welfare system.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Multiple documents describe the child as "emaciated to a skeletal state." Document 2 (WCHS) states: "K.M.'s body was emaciated to a skeletal state" and that she "had not been eating for months." Document 7 (WSAZ) states: "Investigators said the girl had not eaten for months and was unable to function." This constitutes explicit evidence of malnutrition and starvation.
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
The criminal complaint as reported in the WCHS article (Document 2) states: "With the overwhelmingly visible conditions of K.M.'s body and the clear and distinct physical problems, Miller failed to obtain any medical treatment for K.M. for at least the last four years." The WSAZ article (Document 3) also states: "Deputies stated the child's mother, Julie Miller, failed to get her daughter any medical treatment for the last four years." This constitutes explicit medical neglect.
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
While the charges are framed as neglect, the circumstances describe a pattern that goes beyond typical neglect into confinement and sustained deprivation. Document 2 states the grandmother told deputies the girl "had only been outside the house possibly two times in the last four years" and "had not been eating for months." She had not attended school since late 2019/early 2020 and received no medical care for at least four years despite her deteriorating condition. This pattern of keeping a child virtually confined indoors for four years while she wasted away, hidden from the outside world, suggests confinement and sustained deprivation of food extending beyond routine neglect.
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Multiple documents identify the biological mother as the primary person charged. Document 2 (WCHS) states: "Julie Anne Stone Miller, 49, of Morrisvale, was arrested and booked into the Southwestern Regional Jail" and charged with "child neglect causing death." Document 5 identifies her as the child's mother: "Her mother, Julie Anne Stone Miller, 44, was charged with child neglect causing death."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Document 8 (WSAZ) states: "Her mother and two grandparents stand charged with child neglect resulting in death. All three have pleaded not guilty." The grandparents are adult relatives who were involved in the child's death as they were charged alongside the mother.
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Document 1 (West Virginia Watch) states: "The deceased girl had been homeschooled, according to records obtained from Boone County Schools." Document 2 (WCHS) states the grandmother told deputies "the girl had not attended school since late 2019 or early 2020." Document 4 (WSAZ) reports: "Boone County Sheriff's deputies said during a news conference Wednesday that they believe the teenager was home schooled."
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Document 7 (WSAZ) describes a whistleblower letter that "details two referrals to CPS involving the teenager" with "intake numbers assigned to the cases — along with dates, times and even names of supervisors and workers." It states: "The letter also details two times CPS was referred to the home — once in 2009 and the other in 2017. According to the letter, the teen's name was listed at both times in the CPS system." Additionally, "WSAZ received a response to a Freedom of Information Act request we sent to West Virginia State Police. The response includes notes from a welfare check on the teenager in March 2023. According to the call log, the trooper made a referral to CPS." Document 8 corroborates: "A whistleblower letter, along with West Virginia State Police audio and a call log, say otherwise. The letter says two prior cases, in 2009 and 2017, list Miller by name. Then, the call log and audio document a state trooper saying he filed a CPS referral related to Miller in March 2023."
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Document 2 (WCHS) states: "Julie Anne Stone Miller, 49, of Morrisvale, was arrested and booked into the Southwestern Regional Jail Wednesday night" and charged with "child neglect causing death." Document 8 (WSAZ) further states: "Her mother and two grandparents stand charged with child neglect resulting in death. All three have pleaded not guilty."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
The documents detail significant government transparency failures and apparent deception by state officials. The Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily told WSAZ (Document 7) that there was "nothing with this kids name on it in your agency," and the Governor initially said "CPS folks, from what I understand, had no idea about this child, no idea whatsoever." However, a whistleblower letter obtained by WSAZ detailed two prior CPS referrals (2009 and 2017), and state police records documented a trooper making a CPS referral in March 2023 — just one year before the child's death. GPS records (Document 8) showed the trooper spent 10 minutes at the girl's home and then immediately drove to the Boone County DHHR office. Additionally, the state denied FOIA requests citing child confidentiality, despite state and federal law requiring disclosure of information in child neglect fatalities. The case also exposed broader CPS systemic issues: Document 1 notes that "CPS workers have investigated only about half of child abuse and/or neglect referrals in the state-mandated timeframe," and the former health department was broken up by lawmakers in 2023 due to lack of transparency, though legislators said secrecy only worsened.
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