Grandmother Faces Jury in Death of 14-Year-Old Girl Who Allegedly Left Home Only Twice in Four Years Before Starving to Death

A disturbing case involving the death of a 14-year-old girl in West Virginia has reached trial, with prosecutors alleging that her grandmother failed to provide the care and basic necessities she desperately needed before she starved to death. Investigators say Kyneddi Miller had become so severely emaciated that her body was described as being in a “skeletal state” when authorities discovered her at the family’s home in April 2024. Even more troubling, her grandmother allegedly told investigators that the teenager had gone outside only twice in the previous four years.

Donna Stone, 78, is facing charges of murder by a parent, guardian or custodian through refusal or failure to provide necessities, as well as child neglect resulting in death. Her trial began on October 14, 2026, in Boone County Circuit Court, nearly two and a half years after Kyneddi’s death. Prosecutors began presenting their case to a 12-member jury, calling Boone County Sheriff Chad Barker as their first witness. During his testimony, Barker described the scene he encountered when he entered the home where the teenager’s body was found.

The case first came to light on April 17, 2024, when deputies and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of a juvenile girl in cardiac arrest at a residence on Cameo Road in Morrisvale, West Virginia. Inside, they found Kyneddi lying motionless on a foam pad on the bathroom floor. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities later reported that she weighed just 58 pounds at the time of her death and appeared profoundly malnourished. Investigators believed she had been dead for several days before emergency responders arrived.

Kyneddi had been living in the home with her mother, Julie Ann Miller, her grandmother Donna Stone, and her grandfather, Jerry Stone. According to investigators, the teenager had not attended school for approximately four or five years. Her mother reportedly began homeschooling her in February 2021, citing medical concerns and fears that the family might expose the elderly grandparents to COVID-19. However, authorities later questioned how the arrangement had allowed the teenager to remain isolated for such an extended period without regular contact with school officials or medical professionals.

During interviews with investigators, Donna Stone reportedly said she believed her granddaughter had gone outside only twice in the preceding four years. The grandmother also allegedly told authorities that Kyneddi had an eating disorder and was unable to function independently for several days before her death. Stone reportedly said she did not believe the teenager had seen a doctor in approximately four or five years. These statements have become significant parts of the case as prosecutors seek to establish what the adults in the household knew about Kyneddi’s deteriorating condition and whether they failed to obtain the help she needed.

Kyneddi’s mother has already faced legal consequences in connection with the tragedy. Julie Ann Miller pleaded guilty in November 2025 to a charge involving the death of a child caused by a parent, guardian or custodian. In February 2026, she was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 15 years and an additional 50 years of supervised release. During the sentencing proceedings, the judge condemned the failures that led to the teenager’s death, emphasizing that no child should have to endure such suffering. Jerry Stone was also charged in connection with Kyneddi’s death, but a judge ruled in August 2025 that he was incompetent to stand trial, and he was committed to a state mental hospital.

For prosecutors, Donna Stone’s trial represents another effort to establish accountability for the circumstances surrounding Kyneddi’s final years and death. The central questions include the extent of the grandmother’s knowledge, her role in the teenager’s care, and whether she failed to provide necessities despite signs of severe neglect. Although the allegations are deeply disturbing, the charges against Stone remain allegations that must be established through the legal process. As testimony continues, the jury will hear evidence intended to clarify what happened inside the home and whether the grandmother bears criminal responsibility for her granddaughter’s death.

Kyneddi’s story has drawn attention to the vulnerability of children who become isolated from schools, medical care and people outside their households. For a teenager who should have been growing, learning and building relationships, investigators describe years spent largely confined to a family home, followed by a death that authorities say could not be separated from severe neglect. As the trial unfolds, the focus remains on obtaining justice for Kyneddi and determining how the adults responsible for her care allowed the situation to reach such a devastating end.

Sources: Law&Crime