Photo: Caddo County Sheriff’s Office/Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office / Courtesy
State investigators confirmed Thursday that the remains found by Oklahoma authorities last week are those of 4-year-old Athena Brownfield, who was allegedly murdered by her caretaker.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said that the girl was positively identified by the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. His remains were recovered on January 17 by state authorities.
The heartbreaking case went from a missing girl to a “recovery operation” after investigators learned she was beaten to death on Christmas Day, according to court documents.
The The murder was carried out by 36-year-old Ivon Adams, who prosecutors say hit her multiple times.
He was arrested and is charged with first degree murder and child neglect charges.
In an affidavit, reported by The Oklahoman, Adams’ wife, Alysia, told a state trooper that her husband hit the girl around midnight and held her arms.
Athena “He was not moving and his eyes were barely open,” the 31-year-old wife told police, according to the affidavit. She “Then she laid her on the ground and hit her at least three more times in the chest.”
The affidavit states that Ivon Adams fled with the body shortly after midnight and took the remains to Rush Spring, near her former home.
Athena came to the attention of authorities after a postal worker found her 5-year-old sister walking alone in front of the Adams home more than two weeks after the alleged murder.
Alysia Adams, who was facing two counts of child neglect, was related to the young sisters.
Ivon Adams was captured in Arizona and taken back to Oklahoma, Fox 25 reported. She was denied bail.
The sisters’ biological parents have cooperated with police. The two girls had been in Adams’ care for approximately two years.
State investigators had no further information to release Thursday due to a court order.
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