WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Oklahoma investigators say a man charged with murdering 4-year-old Athena Brownfield — who was in the suspect’s care when she went missing — allegedly killed her on Christmas and buried her body before fleeing to Arizona.
Authorities have charged Ivon Adams, 35, with first-degree murder and child neglect in connection with Athena’s disappearance from Adams’ home in Cyril, Oklahoma, and the girl’s suspected death. His wife, 35-year-old Alysia Adams, is charged with two counts of child neglect.
“Alysia confessed that on Dec. 25, 2022, around midnight that night, Ivon beat [Athena] and held her by her arms, [Athena] was not moving and her eyes were barely open,” Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) Special Agent Brenna Alvarez wrote in a probable cause affidavit filed in Caddo County. “He then laid her on the ground and punched her chest at least more three times after that. [Athena] never moved after that.”
The alleged abuse occurred at the Adams’ home at 225 West Nebraska Avenue in Cyril, Oklahoma.
Athena Brownfield, 4, of Cyril, Oklahoma, has been missing since at least Tuesday.
(National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)
Ivon left the residence with Athena afterward and later told Alysia that he buried her near the fence line of their old property in Rush Springs, Oklahoma, according to Alvarez.
Athena and her older sister called Alysia “Mom” and “Aly.” They called Ivon “Dad” and “Uncle Ivon,” the court filing states. Their biological mother, Jasmin Brownfield, left the girls in the Adams’ care approximately one to two years prior to Athena’s disappearance. The Adams did not take the girls to the doctor or enroll Athena in school, according to the affidavit.
Athena was initially reported missing last week after a postal carrier found her 5-year-old sister wandering around alone on Nebraska Avenue in Cyril, Oklahoma, around 2 p.m.
OKLAHOMA AUTHORITIES MAKE ARREST IN MISSING TODDLER ATHENA BROWFIELD’S MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE
The postal carrier knew the 5-year-old girl “wasn’t where she was supposed to be and notified police,” at which point law enforcement realized that Athena was missing, said OSBI public information officer Brook Arbeitman during a press conference posted to Facebook last week.
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation agents on Thursday arrested Alysia Adams on two counts of child neglect in connection with the disappearance of 4-year-old Athena Brownfield.
(OSBI)
Athena’s older sister told a Cyril officer that she had “been home alone and was tired of being alone,” the affidavit states.
The officer then received a phone call from Alysia Adams asking where Athena Brownfield was located. At that time, authorities determined that the 4-year-old was missing.
Athena Brownfield, 4, has been missing since at least Tuesday and authorities are continuing to search for her.
(Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)
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Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ivon in Phoenix on a charge of acting as a fugitive from justice.
Anyone with information about Athena’s whereabouts is asked to contact OSBI at 405-879-2591 or local police.
