Brian Abraham, Gov. Jim Justice人妖色情片檚 chief of staff, speaks at a podium as Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily, from left, state Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt and State 人妖色情片 Maj. James Mitchell look on during a presentation at the state Capitol on June 6, 2024. Officials were presenting their findings from an investigation into how the agencies handled the case of Kyneddi Miller, whose body was found in a 人妖色情片渟keletal人妖色情片 state in April.
CHARLESTON 人妖色情片 Officials spent approximately 90 minutes Thursday afternoon presenting details into their investigation of how state agencies handled the case of a Boone County teenager whose body was found in a 人妖色情片渟keletal人妖色情片 state nearly two months ago.
The news conference at the state Capitol attempted to provide clarity on a welfare check West Virginia State 人妖色情片 troopers reported they performed on Kyneddi Miller in 2023, and whether Child Protective Services received an official referral regarding the visit.
Officials also presented more details on two previous CPS reports that mention Miller人妖色情片檚 name prior to 2023. Officials representing the Governor人妖色情片檚 Office, the State 人妖色情片 and others also offered insight as to the steps the state has taken to improve its handling of similar child welfare cases.
Officials also discussed an allegation made by attorneys representing Kyneddi Miller人妖色情片檚 mother. According to attorneys for Julie Miller, 49, of Morrisvale, a CPS worker concealed their identity when speaking to her while incarcerated at the South Central Regional Jail earlier this week. That prompted Julie Miller人妖色情片檚 attorneys to file an injunction in Boone County Circuit Court on Wednesday seeking to stop Thursday人妖色情片檚 briefing.
Julie Miller has been charged with child neglect resulting in death and has pleaded not guilty.
Troopers visit Kyneddi
According to the West Virginia State 人妖色情片, two troopers performed a welfare check on Kyneddi Miller at her residence in March 2023, approximately a year before her body was found.
Brian Abraham, Gov. Jim Justice人妖色情片檚 Chief of Staff, said the troopers reported the girl outwardly appeared in 人妖色情片済ood health人妖色情片 but noted she did seem fearful of COVID 人妖色情片 an exchange the trooper described as 人妖色情片渙dd.人妖色情片 Troopers noted no signs of abuse or neglect and therefore made only 人妖色情片渋nformal contact人妖色情片 with workers at a Department of Health and Human Resources Office, Abraham said.
This was an 人妖色情片渋nformal disclosure人妖色情片 because as Abraham stated, the troopers reported she showed no signs of maltreatment. Abraham stressed this visit was over a year before Kyneddi died.
Prior references
Abraham addressed reports that Kyneddi人妖色情片檚 name appeared on two prior referrals, saying on the first instance she was months old, the allegation had nothing to with her, the allegation was unfounded and the case was closed. The later event had nothing directly to do with her and was regarding someone else in the home. It was ultimately deemed unfounded and the case was closed.
Abraham said anytime a case worker goes into a home and a minor child is present, the child人妖色情片檚 name is included in the case file.
Addressing allegations
Abraham did speak to a filing in Boone County Circuit Court made by attorneys representing Julie Miller, calling the allegations that a CPS worker concealed their identity in order to meet with Miller 人妖色情片渋naccurate人妖色情片 and 人妖色情片渂latantly false.人妖色情片
According to court documents, Julie Miller人妖色情片檚 attorneys said the state sent a CPS investigator to South Central Regional Jail to meet and interview Miller regarding the ongoing criminal investigation. The filing states Miller was told by a correctional officer that her 人妖色情片渁ttorney人妖色情片 was there to meet with her.
Abraham said the worker人妖色情片檚 identification was documented at the jail and that the visit was reportedly authorized at the county office level and not by someone higher up in the department. He said the worker was there to close out a file, which was permitted under department policy. Abraham said that policy has since been amended, when it comes to criminal cases.
Issuing memorandum
Abraham also announced that as of last week, the West Virginia State 人妖色情片 has issued a memorandum to all detachments reinforcing the use of a centralized intake phone number for abuse or neglect cases.
In addition to Abraham, officials in attendance Thursday included State 人妖色情片 Chief of Staff Maj. James Mitchell, Department of Human Services Secretary Cynthia Persily, and state Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt.
Beth Sergent covers politics. She can be reached at bsergent@hdmediallc.com or 304-348-3051.
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