GRADY COUNTY, OK—A suspect in the disappearance of 4-year-old Athena Brownfield is facing a murder count in Oklahoma, according to a media release from the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation.
Ivon Adams, 36, is awaiting extradition to Oklahoma on one count of Murder in the First Degree and one count of Child Neglect. He was taken into custody on Friday in Arizona and is currently in the Maricopa County Jail.
Alysia Adams, 31, was also arrested Thursday and remains in the Caddo County Jail facing a count of Child Neglect.
Alysia and Ivon Adams were Athena's caretakers when she disappeared. Athena's five-year-old sister was also in their care. She was located Tuesday near the Adams' home at 225 W. Nebraska in Cyril. A postal carrier found the child and notified local police that she was unattended. The five-year-old is in protective custody.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) continues efforts to locate Athena. Agents were following up on tips coming from Oklahoma and other states.
The city of Cyril has also suspended trash service as investigators search for clues.
Anyone with any information should contact the OSBI at (800) 522-8017 or email [email protected]. You can remain anonymous.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two people have now been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Athena Brownfield, a 4-year-old Oklahoma girl whose 5-year-old sister was discovered wandering alone outside by a postal worker, state investigators said Friday.
Arizona authorities arrested 36-year-old Ivon Adams on Thursday, and he is being held in the Maricopa County jail in Phoenix pending extradition to Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.
Authorities earlier arrested Alysia Adams, 31, on two counts of child neglect, the bureau said in a statement late Thursday. Alysia Adams remained jailed in Oklahoma's Caddo County on Friday.
The bureau released no further details about the arrests or what the suspects' relationship is. It was not known if either Adams had an attorney to comment on their behalf.
A bureau spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.
The arrests are related to the search for Athena, who was reported missing Tuesday in Cyril, about 70 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, the bureau said.
The postal carrier found Athena’s sister wandering alone outside Adams' home Monday afternoon and alerted Cyril police. Authorities then determined that Athena was missing.
The girls had been in the care of Adams and her husband, and Athena's sister was taken into protective custody, the bureau said Wednesday.
Authorities said they believe Athena was wearing a hoodie with a butterfly design when she disappeared.
The bureau 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 has also suspended trash service as investigators search for clues.
The bureau said agents were following up on tips coming from Oklahoma and other states.