Grand jury indicts woman in infant-death case

A Deep Gap woman was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter following the death of an infant girl.

A Watauga County grand jury indicted Kayla Ernestine Ruppard, 20, of Deep Gap on Monday in connection with the death of eight-month-old Octavia Miller, who died of hyperthermia — a heat-related condition similar to heat stroke — on May 29.

On Wednesday, Ruppard was given a $15,000 bond after appearing before a county magistrate. Her first court date is July 24.

Officers of the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office, Meat Camp Volunteer Fire Department first responders and Watauga Medics had first responded to a call regarding the infant who was not breathing on Morning Dove Lane in Boone.

Involuntary manslaughter is listed in the state general statutes as a Class F felony, which could carry a sentence of up to 20 years in addition to possible fines.

For more details, see the Weekender edition of the Watauga Democrat.

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