BOONE COUNTY The trial of Julie Miller, Donna Stone, and Jerry Stone, the parent and grandparents accused in the death of 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller, will remain in Boone County. A judge denied a request to move the trial during a hearing on Friday.
Kyneddi Miller of Morrisvale was found dead on the bathroom floor of her home in April, described by officials as “emaciated to a skeletal state.” Boone County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Holstein previously stated that her malnourishment was comparable to images of Holocaust victims.
The trial has been rescheduled for January 29, 2025, after Julie Miller and Donna Stone waived their rights to a speedy trial. Jerry Stone’s mental competency evaluation, still ongoing, prompted the delay.
In October, Julie Miller’s defense team requested the trial be moved out of Boone County, citing concerns that extensive media coverage and public statements, including those by Governor Jim Justice, had created widespread prejudice. They argued that this could prevent an impartial jury from being selected.
Court documents referenced press conferences, media reports, and ongoing investigations as reasons for the change of venue. As an alternative, the defense asked the court to conduct a survey to gauge public opinion within the judicial circuit, but this request was also denied.
The state opposed the motion, asserting that media coverage alone does not prove the defendants cannot receive a fair trial. Prosecutors argued that the defense’s claims were unsupported by affidavits or witness testimony and relied solely on media reports.
The court noted that determining whether prejudice exists should involve questioning potential jurors during jury selection. According to the state, the legal standard focuses on whether a “pervasive hostile sentiment” exists across the county, not simply the presence of media attention.
Julie Miller, Donna Stone, and Jerry Stone were indicted in September on charges of murder by a parent, guardian, or custodian by failure or refusal to provide necessities and child neglect resulting in death. All three pleaded not guilty in October.
According to a criminal complaint, a family member told law enforcement that Kyneddi had an eating disorder and had not been eating for months. The complaint also stated she had been unable to function independently for nearly a week before her death, with her body left on the bathroom floor for four to five days.
The three defendants will appear in court again on November 22.