Search for missing four-year-old girl now a 'recovery operation' as fears grow
The search for a girl who went missing last week is now considered a "recovery operation", authorities said as they continue to search for the child.
Athena Brownfield, 4, was reported missing on Tuesday, January 10, in Cyril, about 70 miles (110 kilometres) southwest of Oklahoma City, US.
Two caregivers, relatives of the child, have been arrested and one of them has been charged with murder in relation to her disappearance.
Athena’s five-year-old sister was found by a postal carrier wandering alone outside the caregivers' home on Monday afternoon and alerted Cyril police. Authorities then determined that Athena was missing.
Alysia Adams, 31, is accused of child neglect and her husband, Ivon Adams, 36 is facing one count of first-degree murder and one count of child neglect.
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Ivon Adams, 36, was charged with murder in relation to Athena's disappearance (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)Ivon Adams was arrested in Phoenix on January 12 and is awaiting extradition to Oklahoma. Alysia, who was arrested on the same day, is being held in the Caddo County Jail.
In an announcement, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) stated that the search for Athena is now considered a recovery operation, while agents are searching areas of Caddo County for the toddler’s remains.
OSBI said that Athena and her five-year-old sister are related to Alysia Adams. They also noted that the children had been in the Adams’ care for at least a year.
Ivon Adams' wife, Alysia, has been arrested and charged with child neglect (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)The girls' biological parents have been interviewed by authorities and are cooperating with the investigation, OSBI said, while Athena's 5-year-old sister has been placed in protective custody.
OSBI also asked people not to go searching for Brownfield on their own, and warned that those who do say could be trespassing and run the risk of "interfering with the investigation by contaminating potential evidence."
During search efforts last week, the bureau said officers were examining vacant houses in the area, as well as local waterways.
The search includes boats, all-terrain vehicles, a specially trained ground team, and surveillance video (Trooper Eric Foster/AP/REX/Shutterstock)The bureau had previously said it was working with other law enforcement agencies and volunteers in the search, which included a helicopter, boats, all-terrain vehicles, a specially trained ground team, and a review of surveillance video from around Cyril.
The city of Cyril also suspended trash service as investigators searched for clues.
OSBI warned against speculation and "rumours on social media" related to the missing girl, citing the investigation could be hindered.
They urged the public: "Please refrain from speculation regarding what the investigation has revealed to this point.
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"Rumours on social media will not help the investigation and may instead hinder our progress."
Anyone with information about the case should contact the OSBI tipline at (800) 522-8017 or email [email protected], with an option to retain anonymity.
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