The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported Thursday, Jan 26 that the child remains discovered last week in Oklahoma have been definitively identified as those of Athena Brownfield, a 4-year-old who had been missing for a few weeks.
Police arrested two guardians Ivon and Alysa Adams early this month in connection to the girl’s case.
The child’s remains were discovered in Rush Springs, Oklahoma on January 17, one week after the hunt began.
“Due to a gag order filed in Caddo County District Court, there is no additional comment on the investigation from the OSBI,” the bureau stated, CBS reports.
The hunt for Athena Brownfield began on January 10, when a mail carrier discovered the girl’s 5-year-old sister playing alone on the street. On January 16, the OSBI labeled the search a “recovery operation.”
The girls’ babysitters, Alysia Adams,31, and her husband, Ivon Adams, 36, have both been arrested in relation to the toddler’s death On Thursday, January 12. Reports say Ivon is accused of first-degree murder and child neglect and Alysia has been charged with child abuse and neglect.
Alysia Adams, who OSBI claims is a relative of the two girls, was given custody of the kids by their biological mother, Jasmin Brownfield, roughly two years ago, according to court records.
According to an affidavit obtained by The Oklahoman, Adams’ wife Alysia said to a state agency that her husband hit the young child around midnight while holding her up by the arms. Athena “was not moving and her eyes were barely open,” as the 31-year-old wife told police. “He then laid her on the ground and punched her at least three more times in her chest. Athena never moved after that.”
As per Fox’s report, the alleged abuse took place at the Adams’ residence in Cyril, Oklahoma, located at 225 West Nebraska Avenue.
After that, Ivon departed the house with Athena and later informed Alysia that he had buried Athena close to the fence of their previous home in Rush Springs, Oklahoma, according to OSBI Special Agent Brenna Alvarez.
The OSBI earlier reported that the sister who was discovered by the mailman was taken into protective care.