A West Virginia mother cried in court as she received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison for the 2024 death of her severely emaciated 14-year-old daughter.
Julie Miller, 51, from Morrisvale in Boone County, pleaded guilty in November 2025 to the death of a child by a parent by child abuse. The maximum sentence came during a hearing on Feb. 25, 2026, before Boone County Circuit Judge Stacy Nowicki-Eldridge.
Kyneddi Miller died on Apr. 17, 2024, after going into cardiac arrest. Her body was found on the bathroom floor in an emaciated, skeletal state, weighing just 58 pounds.
Prosecutors stated Kyneddi suffered from an untreated eating disorder. Her mother had not sought medical care for her in at least four years, and the girl had spent her final days alone on the floor, according to People.
The teen had left home only twice in four years and stopped attending public school around 2019 or 2020. She was being homeschooled, but the required annual assessments were never submitted to state authorities.
Read more: Daughter Who Found Family Massacred Now Faces Quadruple Murder Charges for Slitting Their Throats
Judge Nowicki-Eldridge remarked during sentencing that the child literally starved to death. She added that no child should endure such suffering, CBS News reported.
If paroled after 15 years, Miller must complete 50 years of supervised release. The case exposed flaws in West Virginia's child welfare system.
Two grandparents lived in the Morrisvale home. Jerry Stone was ruled incompetent for trial due to cognitive decline, while Donna Stone awaits trial next month on child neglect resulting in death, as per ABC News reported.
A federal audit in November 2025, triggered by Kyneddi's death, found the state often failed to interview children or assess safety risks in abuse reports. State police had checked on the girl in March 2023 but saw no signs of abuse and made no follow-up.
Legislative bills now aim to reform child protective services. The Department of Human Services requires a formal intake for potential neglect cases.
