West Virginia Mother Receives Life Sentence for Starvation Death of Teen Daughter
A West Virginia woman has been sentenced to up to life in prison for the death of her teenage daughter, whose emaciated body was discovered at their family home. The tragic case has prompted intense scrutiny of the state's overwhelmed child welfare system and led to calls for systemic reforms.
Details of the Case and Sentencing
Julie Miller, 51, pleaded guilty in November to the charge of death of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian. She will be eligible for parole after serving 15 years for the April 2024 death of her 14-year-old daughter, Kyneddi Miller. During the sentencing, Boone County Circuit Judge Stacy Nowicki-Eldridge stated, "This child literally starved to death. No child should ever have to go through that."
According to a criminal complaint, Kyneddi Miller suffered from an eating disorder, and her mother had not sought medical care for her in at least four years. Prosecutor Dan Holstein revealed that the teenager spent her final days alone on a bathroom floor, weighing a mere 58 pounds (26 kilograms).
Family Involvement and Broader Investigations
Two of the girl's grandparents also lived at the home in Morrisvale. Jerry Stone was found incompetent to stand trial due to declining cognitive ability, while Donna Stone faces trial next month on a charge of child neglect resulting in death.
The case has triggered multiple investigations. A federal audit released in November, prompted by Kyneddi's death, found that West Virginia failed to comply with requirements for responding to reports of child abuse and neglect. The audit highlighted failures to interview children or adults and assess immediate safety risks in most cases.
Additionally, a state investigation was launched to determine whether law enforcement and child protective services could have intervened earlier. In response, the state Department of Human Services now mandates that potential abuse and neglect cases be referred to an intake telephone number for formal documentation.
Systemic Failures and Legislative Response
Several bills have been introduced during the current legislative session aimed at improving West Virginia's child welfare system. Governor Patrick Morrisey vowed last year to release results of child welfare investigations that were previously withheld from the public.
In June 2024, Brian Abraham, chief of staff for then-Republican Governor Jim Justice, disclosed that state police were summoned to check on Kyneddi in March 2023 but found no indication of abuse. A trooper informally suggested to the local human services office that she might need mental health resources, but no follow-up checks were made.
The trooper reported that the girl appeared healthy and attributed her reluctance to leave home to anxiety about being around people due to COVID-19. Kyneddi Miller last attended public school in 2021 and was being homeschooled at the time of her death.
Homeschooling Oversight and Accountability
Under state code, parents of homeschooled students must conduct annual academic assessments, submitting them to the state after the third, fifth, eighth, and 11th grades. Failure to report assessments can result in a child being terminated from the homeschool program and the county taking truancy action.
Local media reported that state records indicate Julie Miller never submitted the required assessments for her daughter, raising questions about oversight and accountability in homeschooling regulations.
