Executive Summary
- Julie Miller sentenced to 15 years to life for the death of her 14-year-old daughter.
- Victim Kyneddi Miller was found in a skeletal state after receiving no medical care for four years.
- Judge Stacy Nowicki-Eldridge mandated 50 years of supervision if parole is ever granted.
- Grandmother Donna Stone faces trial in March; grandfather Jerry Stone found incompetent to stand trial.
A West Virginia mother was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison on Wednesday following the death of her 14-year-old daughter, whom authorities discovered in a “skeletal state” due to severe neglect. The sentencing took place in Boone County Circuit Court, concluding a case that revealed years of isolation and deprivation.
Julie Miller appeared before Circuit Judge Stacy Nowicki-Eldridge, receiving a sentence of 15 years to life. The judge ruled that should Miller ever be deemed eligible for parole, she will be subject to 50 years of supervision. Miller had previously pleaded guilty in November to the charge of causing the death of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian.
During the hearing, Judge Nowicki-Eldridge addressed the severity of the evidence, noting that photographs of the victim were beyond comprehension. “No child should ever have to go through that,” the judge stated in court. “This child deserved a mother who provided at the bare minimum enough food that her body didn’t eat itself.” Miller expressed remorse during the proceedings.
Deputies were dispatched to the family’s home in the Morrisvale area on April 17, 2024, following a report that Kyneddi Miller was in cardiac arrest. According to law enforcement officials, the teenager was found in a skeletal condition. Investigators determined that the victim had not received medical treatment in at least four years and had not attended school since late 2019 or early 2020. Furthermore, the investigation revealed she had not eaten in months and had only left the residence approximately twice in the last four years.
The victim’s grandparents, Jerry and Donna Stone, who lived in the same residence, were also arrested in May 2024. A grand jury indicted them, alongside Julie Miller, on charges including murder by failure to provide necessities and child neglect resulting in death. While Jerry Stone has been found incompetent to stand trial, Donna Stone’s trial is scheduled for March 17.
It is important to note that Donna Stone is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Judicial Implications and Case Precedent
The sentencing reflects a rigorous application of state statutes regarding custodial responsibility and child neglect resulting in death. By imposing a life sentence with an extensive supervision tail, the court has underscored the gravity of passive abuse cases where deprivation leads to fatality. The prosecution of multiple adults within the household further signals a legal precedent that extends liability beyond the primary biological parent to other custodial figures aware of the neglect.
