CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WCHS) — A West Virginia lawmaker from Taylor County delivered a pointed speech on the Senate floor Tuesday, calling for sweeping reform of Child Protective Services following the death of 11-year-old Miana Moran — a case that has raised more questions about the state’s child welfare system.

Sen. Jay Taylor (R-Taylor) opened his remarks by holding up a photograph of Miana, urging lawmakers to see her not as a statistic or a case number, but as a child who “deserved protection.”

The child died Feb. 16, 2025. She weighed 43 pounds at her autopsy, according to investigators.

Her measurements were “grossly inconsistent with her chronological age,” Taylor County Deputy Chris MacQueen wrote in the court document charging Moran’s custodian, Shannon Robinson, with her murder. MacQueen said the medical examiner also noted Moran had head lice, a yellowish tint to her skin, bones “visibly protruding” because of her extreme thinness, and multiple bruises and lacerations on her body.

Last Tuesday, Robinson was indicted on charges of murder of a child by a parent, guardian, or custodian by refusal or failure to provide necessities, and child neglect resulting in death. The child’s father, Aaron Moran, was arrested on Saturday after being indicted on the same charges.

Taylor said lawmakers cannot ignore what has been publicly revealed about CPS’s involvement before the child’s death.

Taylor County Prosecuting Attoney John Bord told Eyewitness News that CPS visisted the home where Miana Moran, 11, was found dead weeks before her death in Feb. 2025. (WCHS)

Last week, Taylor County Prosecuting Attorney John Bord confirmed during an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News that CPS visited Robinson’s home, where Miana and her older sister lived, multiple times prior to the girl’s death, including within weeks of her dying.

Bord said CPS workers made physical contact with the child during the final visit, though he could not specify who made the referral or what allegations were made.

“I think the department has some responsibility in this, too,” Bord said, referring to the West Virginia Department of Human Services. “Again, we haven’t gotten anything to say that specifically, but you asked me my opinion, and it’s my opinion.”

Shannon Robinson, 51, of Grafton, is being held without bond following an arraignment hearing on Thursday. She’s accused of the murder of Miana Moran, 11. (WCHS)

“If those reports are accurate, West Virginians are right to ask an obvious and fair question,” Taylor said. “How did this happen?”

Gov. Patrick Morrisey confirmed last week that DoHS has opened an internal investigation into CPS’s handling of the case.

“That alone tells us what every West Virginian already knows,” Taylor said. “Something went wrong, and it cannot be ignored.”

He rejected early claims that Mianna was homeschooled, noting reporting from Eyewitness News that confirmed she was enrolled in a public virtual school program through Upshur County Schools.

Aaron Moran, 42, of Grafton, was arrested by West Virginia State Police on Saturday. (WVDCR)

“We owe the public the truth,” Taylor said. “Because wrong diagnosis leads to wrong reforms.”

Taylor told senators that legislation is now being drafted to overhaul CPS oversight and accountability. He said the goal is not political gain, but restoring public confidence in a system tasked with protecting vulnerable children.

“We cannot accept a system where the agency investigates itself behind closed doors and elected lawmakers are left unable to confirm that children are truly being protected,” the senator remarked.

Taylor acknowledged long-standing concerns raised by CPS officials, including staffing shortages, high caseloads, and low pay, but said those realities cannot excuse systemic failure.

“Those challenges may be real,” he said. “But they are not an acceptable excuse for failing a child.”

He criticized what he described as a culture of secrecy within CPS, arguing that while confidentiality can protect children, it can also shield the system from scrutiny.

Sen. Jay Taylor (R-Taylor) holds up a photo of Miana Moran, 11, during a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday where he called for CPS reform in light of details revealed following her death last year. (WV Legislature/Photo by Will Price)

“Secrecy without oversight does not protect children,” Taylor said. “It protects systems.”

Taylor called for meaningful legislative oversight, improved documentation, supervisory accountability, and transparency into CPS decision-making — without compromising the privacy and dignity of children.

The senator concluded by urging lawmakers to confront the reality that failures are often only revealed after a child has died.

“We have failed in our responsibility to our children,” he said. “That is hard to say, but it is necessary to say, and acknowledging that failure is the first step towards fixing it.

DoHS has not responded to a request for comment regarding the case.

Eyewitness News has filed Freedom of Information requests seeking records related to CPS involvement before and after the girl’s death. On Monday, assistant general counsel Lauren Withers said the agency was currently researching to determine any public records in its possession that are responsive to the request and not otherwise exempt by law.

“We anticipate having a final response to your request no later than February 26, 2026,” Withers said.

In 2024, Kyneddi Miller, 14, was found dead in a “skeletal state” in her Boone County home.

In 2024, Kyneddi Miller, 14, was found dead in a “skeletal state” in her Boone County home. The case marked a turning point in West Virginia, exposing widespread breakdowns in the state’s child protection system and prompting major scrutiny of how abuse and neglect cases are handled. (Family Courtesy Photo)

Advertisement

The case marked a turning point in West Virginia, exposing widespread breakdowns in the state’s child protection system and prompting major scrutiny of how abuse and neglect cases are handled.

Documents obtained by Eyewitness News showed child protective services knew or should have known about the teen more than a year before her death.

A Nov. 2025, a federal audit found the state did not comply with 91% of investigation requirements when responding to reports of child abuse and neglect.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General said news coverage of Kyneddi’s death prompted the audit that sampled 100 of 23,759 of West Virginia’s screened-in family reports of child abuse and neglect from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024.

State lawmakers have introduced bills this session attempting to bolster accountability for DoHS.

House Bill 4579 would require CPS workers to wear a body camera while investigating reports of child abuse and neglect. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it hasn’t yet been taken up for consideration.

“The time is now to reform child protective services in this state,” Taylor said. “Not with rhetoric, not with excuses, but with accountability, transparency, and responsibility worthy of the trust West Virginia’s place in us.

DALLAS – After briefly ending the subfreezing streak, it remains bitterly cold this morning. Any lingering moisture has iced over, resulting in patches of black ice on exposed surfaces. Residents should exercise extra caution. 

Roads remain slick in many areas. The safest option is to stay off the roads until more significant melting occurs this afternoon. 

With melting adding moisture to the air and light winds on Tuesday night, there is a risk of fog as temperatures drop back below freezing. The risk is highest north and west of the Metroplex. Freezing fog is particularly dangerous, as it can create a thin layer of ice on any surface it touches. This may spread across North Texas after 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Live Traffic Map

Road Conditions – Tuesday, Jan. 25

10:30 a.m.: DFW road conditions

 The roads are still a little rough. According to FOX 4 traffic reporter Chip Waggoner, transition areas are the worst in this period of flux. 

You have the highways and the toll roads that have been sanded and graded, but you also have on and off ramps and the secondary streets that remain untouched.

“It’s pretty dangerous and treacherous there. That’s why I think one more day of staying home is going to be worth your while,” he said.

As temperatures get above freezing on Tuesday afternoon, some of the ice should begin to melt.

8:50 a.m.: Road conditions around Fort Worth

8:40 a.m.: Trouble on I-30 continues

8:20 a.m.: Road conditions in Collin County

8 a.m.: Trouble on I-30

6:40 a.m.: Icy conditions

5:30 a.m.: I-35E at Hwy. 66

5:15 a.m.: Stay home if you can

Track Icy Road Conditions

If the roads are icy, the best thing you can do is stay home. If you must drive in inclement weather, allow additional time to reach your destination and share your travel plans with a friend or family member, so someone knows the route you’re taking.

If you must drive in inclement weather, allow additional time to reach your destination and share your travel plans with a friend or family member, so someone knows the route you’re taking.

When driving on icy roads, drive slowly and increase the distance between your vehicle and others when stopping. Do not use cruise control during poor driving conditions and ensure your vehicle has a full tank of gas before you head out.

Safety officials tell Texans to be aware and approach bridges and overpasses slowly as ice can accumulate before drivers are able to see it on the roads. Drivers should also watch for downed trees and power lines. If a stoplight is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Safe driving protocols

What you can do:

Safety officials ask Texans to keep a well-stocked emergency kit with warm clothes, food, water, cell phone battery/charger and first aid items.

Here are some other tips to help you stay ahead of winter weather: 

• Use an all-hazards weather radio for up-to-date warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information.
• Sign up for calls or texts from your local emergency notification system.
• Insulate outside faucets and pipes near outer walls.
• Make sure furnaces, heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves are clean, well-ventilated and in good working condition.
• Keep space heaters at least three feet away from walls and combustible materials and make sure to turn them off when you’re away or sleeping. (Also ensure that space heaters cannot tip over and that the cord is not damaged)
• Check on friends and family members whose health or age may put them at greater risk.
• Stock up on firewood and supplies, including canned goods, bottled water and medication.
• Ensure your vehicle’s safety by making sure doors and trunk locks are properly lubricated to prevent them from freezing. Also, check your vehicle’s battery, windshield wipers, tire pressure and tire tread.

Texas DPS also recommends individuals to check their vehicle’s fluid levels and have a well-stocked emergency kit that includes warm clothes, food, water, cell phone battery/charger and first aid items.

Have a way to get updates

Watch live coverage on your phone

With severe winter weather on the way this weekend, you should have a way to get important updates if the power goes out.

The FOX LOCAL app will allow you to stay up to date with livestreams, the latest forecasts, news stories and weather alerts in real time, all from your mobile phone or tablet.

• Stay connected with FOX 4 News. For winter storm coverage — Download Now.

Get county emergency alerts

You can also sign up to get alerts sent to your phone from your county’s emergency office.

MIAMI — Florida transportation officials said a safety stand-down remains in effect for certain construction operations on the Interstate 395 bridge project after six workers were critically injured during a concrete pour earlier this month.

Leer en español

In an email sent to Local 10 News on Tuesday, the Florida Department of Transportation said the Jan. 17 incident occurred during formwork operations, when concrete was being poured into a temporary mold used to form a bridge component known as a “pier cap.”

FDOT emphasized that the incident did not involve the signature bridge arches themselves and happened within a controlled work zone, away from ongoing traffic.

“At the time of the incident, the Department immediately issued a safety stand down, and that continues in effect for all formwork operations,” said FDOT spokesperson Maria Rosa Higgins Fallon. “These operations will remain paused while the contractor implements a corrective action plan to help prevent future incidents of this nature.”

Higgins Fallon did not provide details about the injuries sustained by the six workers, how many remain hospitalized or their current conditions, despite specific questions about whether workers suffered from broken bones, burns or other trauma.

FDOT also did not address whether any workers were trapped during the collapse, as described in emergency dispatcher calls and by fire rescue officials.

Miami Fire Rescue officials previously said crews were called to the I-395 work zone shortly after 10 p.m. on Jan. 17 following reports of a construction accident.

Authorities said all six workers fell or toppled roughly 30 feet during a concrete pour and were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center with serious injuries.

Fire officials said some workers were briefly pinned or trapped among metal bars and wooden materials before being extricated using specialized rescue equipment and a crane already on site.

FDOT confirmed it is working with project leadership to review safety procedures but did not directly answer whether the U.S. Department of Labor or Occupational Safety and Health Administration has formally opened an investigation into the incident.

Local 10’s request to the Department of Labor seeking confirmation of a federal investigation was pending as of Tuesday.

The project is being built by the Archer Western–de Moya Joint Venture, the same contractor involved in a 2021 fatal construction incident in Clearwater that resulted in OSHA safety violations, according to federal records. Local 10 News has requested comment from the company but has not received a response.

The I-395 project, which includes a six-arch “signature bridge” and major interstate reconstruction near downtown Miami, is years behind schedule and has faced complex construction challenges due to the unique design of its precast concrete components.

FDOT said maintaining safety remains its top priority as reviews continue. The investigation into the Jan. 17 incident remains ongoing.

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.