Oklahoma police search for the body of a 4-year-old girl

CYRIL, Oklahoma (AP) — An effort to locate a missing 4-year-old girl in Oklahoma who authorities say was killed by a guard has turned into a search for her remains, officials said Monday.

The search for Athena Brownfield, who has been missing since last week, is now considered a “recovery operation,” the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

Authorities determined that Athena was missing after a postman found her 5-year-old sister wandering alone on January 10 outside the home of the couple caring for the sisters in Cyril, a town of about 800 people about 70 miles (110 kilometers) southwest of Oklahoma City.

Ivon Adams, 36, was arrested Thursday in Phoenix and is awaiting extradition to Oklahoma. He faces charges of first-degree murder and child neglect, according to OBSI.

Alysia Adams, 31, was arrested in Oklahoma and faces two counts of child neglect. OBSI said she was related to the sisters.

Jail records do not list lawyers for either who could comment on the charges against them.

Areas of Caddo County, where Cyril is located, are being searched for Athena’s remains, OBSI announced Monday. The agency asked the public not to search for Athena’s remains, saying people could end up trespassing or contaminating potential evidence.

The sisters’ biological parents have been questioned by authorities and are cooperating with the investigation, OBSI said. Athena’s sister was taken into custody.