4-year-old discovered missing after postal carrier finds her sister, Oklahoma cops say
UPDATE, Jan. 13: Authorities have made a second arrest as the search for Athena Brownfield continues.
Ivon Adams, 36, was taken into custody on Jan. 12 while in Arizona, according to a Jan. 13 news release from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. He was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and awaits extradition to Oklahoma.
UPDATE, Jan. 13: Authorities have made an arrest in the search for missing Athena Brownfield.
Alysia Adams, 31, was charged with two counts of child neglect on Jan. 12, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Athena and her 5-year-old sister were under the care of Adams and her husband, according to a news release.
Authorities are still searching for Athena.
UPDATE, Jan. 12: The search for Athena Brownfield is ongoing, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. The town of Cyril suspended trash pickup service on Jan. 12 until further notice.
The original story is below.
A postal carrier spotted a 5-year-old girl outside her home and reported the incident to an Oklahoma police department, then authorities learned the child’s younger sister was missing.
The Cyril Police Department was notified about the unattended child at about 2 p.m. Tuesday, January 10, according to a news release from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
A search began for the girl’s sister — Athena Brownfield, 4 — but investigators have been unable to find her, authorities said.
“This is a very active and ongoing investigation, and right now our top priority is locating her. And sorting out who’s responsible will come next,” Brook Arbeitman with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation told KOCO. “We need to find this little girl. She’s on her own in the elements. So, is that endangered? Yeah. But is she the victim of physical harm? That’s yet to be determined.”
Athena has “limited verbal skills,” officials said, according to the outlet.
The agency is asking people and businesses with video doorbell cameras in Cyril to notify law enforcement at Family Life Church.
“Additionally, community members are encouraged to search their own property for Athena,” officials said. “Please do not self deploy to search anything other than your own property. If you want to assist in the search effort, please come to the Command Post at Family Life Church.”
Athena was last seen wearing a pink butterfly sweater and pink pants, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
Cyril, in Caddo County, is about 70 miles southwest of Oklahoma City.
This story was originally published January 11, 2023 at 1:55 PM with the headline "4-year-old discovered missing after postal carrier finds her sister, Oklahoma cops say."