Gov. Jim Justice Addresses State’s Handling of Neglect Case Leading to Teen’s Death

The tragic case of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller, who was found dead in her home in a skeletal state, has sparked a wave of questions and concerns about the state’s handling of the situation. Gov. Jim Justice addressed these concerns during a recent news briefing, outlining his administration’s efforts to investigate the matter.

According to Justice, a State Police trooper did visit the girl’s home in March 2023 and requested a referral to child protective services. However, there is doubt about whether the trooper actually followed through with the referral. The governor emphasized the need for transparency and stated that his administration is gathering information from various government agencies involved in the case.

The girl’s mother and grandparents have been charged with felony child neglect causing death, as investigators revealed that Kyneddi had not attended school since late 2019 or 2020 and had minimal contact with the outside world in the last four years. Questions have arisen about whether state agencies could have intervened to save her life.

The Department of Human Services recently released a statement indicating that they have no record of receiving the child protective services referral related to Kyneddi’s case. Justice confirmed that the trooper’s cruiser was parked at the local child protective services office, but there is no recollection of him actually entering the building or filing a report.

As the investigation unfolds, Justice expressed his commitment to finding out what went wrong and holding accountable those responsible for any oversights. He emphasized the importance of learning from tragedies like this and ensuring that proper interventions are in place to prevent similar incidents in the future. The governor vowed to address any wrongdoing harshly and strive to do better in protecting the state’s most vulnerable children.