The West Virginia mother who withdrew her daughter from school in early 2021 — telling school officials she planned to homeschool the then-preteen over fears of spreading Covid to her elderly parents — has pleaded guilty to starving and neglecting the girl until she died in an “emaciated” and “skeletal” condition on the bathroom floor.
Julie A. Miller, 51, appeared in Boone County Circuit Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to one count of death of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian, according to court records reviewed by Law&Crime. The charge stems from the death of her daughter, 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller, in the days leading up to April 17, 2024.
Deputies with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a juvenile experiencing cardiac arrest. When they arrived, they found Kyneddi lying motionless on a foam pad on the bathroom floor. Her “appearance was shocking with an obvious emaciated, skeletal state,” according to the sheriff’s report.
Kyneddi was pronounced dead at the scene. Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Holstein said during an August 2024 hearing that the girl had been lying in the same spot for four to five days before authorities were called, according to CBS affiliate WOWK.
Julie was arrested on April 18, 2024, initially charged with murder by a parent for failure to provide necessities and child neglect resulting in death. She had pleaded not guilty, with a trial scheduled for December 2, before her defense negotiated a plea agreement.
Julie’s parents, Donna Stone and stepfather Jerry Stone, were also charged after their arrests on May 20, 2024. Jerry was ruled incompetent to stand trial following a court-ordered mental health evaluation in September. Donna’s trial is scheduled for February 24, 2026.
Holstein told the Charleston Gazette-Mail that Jerry was found “not capable of regaining competency” and will remain under court jurisdiction for life, with periodic reviews of his placement.
Donna told investigators she had withdrawn Kyneddi from school during the pandemic, sending a letter in February 2021 saying she feared the child could bring Covid home and infect her grandparents. She also said Kyneddi had rarely left the house in the four years she was allegedly homeschooled, including having no medical visits during that time.
Donna added that the teen had an unspecified eating disorder, had not been eating for months, and had become unable to function on her own in the days leading up to her death.
Holstein told the Gazette-Mail it was “satisfying that she acknowledged that she was guilty,” adding that Julie “didn’t challenge the important facts of the case — that she knew her child needed that kind of care and deliberately didn’t get the care for her.”
Julie’s sentencing is set for February 25, 2026. She faces 15 years to life in prison and could be eligible for parole after 15 years. She must also register on the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry.
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