Missing Athena Brownfield, 4, was 'joined at the hip' with elder sister, 5, before being found dead
CYRIL, OKLAHOMA: Athena Brownfield, 4, and her surviving sister, Adina Brownfield, 5, were reportedly inseparable before their caretakers allegedly killed the former. A missing report for the four-year-old was filed on January 10 after a postal worker found her elder sister alone outside the house of their guardians, Ivon and Alysa Adams.
Initially, a search operation was launched but unfortunately, it turned into a recovery operation, and on January 17, a child’s body was discovered in Rush Springs in rural Grady County. Though the medical examiner's office has yet to confirm the remains belonged to Athena, it is believed it was the missing little girl.
RELATED ARTICLES
Athena was reportedly killed on Christmas 2022 by Ivon, who fatally beat her and “held her up by her arms,” The Sun reported citing court documents. The publication also added that the victim “was not moving and her eyes were barely open. He [Ivon] then laid her on the ground and punched her at least three more times in the chest. [Athena] never moved after that.”
An online obituary remembered the short yet sweet life of Athena while giving out heartwrenching details about the child. “Athena loved to color and Baby Shark," the obit noted. It added, "She and her sister were close ‘joined at the hip’. Athena enjoyed playing dress-up. Her favorite color was purple.” The eulogy noted that Athena was born in early September 2018 and “was raised in Nebraska and later in Oklahoma.”
It addee that after her death, “survivors include her mother, Jasmin of Stillwater, father, Wesley of Apache, Oklahoma; sister, Adina of Cyril, grandparents on both sides and aunts and uncles.” The article added, “Services for Athena Alexandria Brownfield, 4, Cyril resident, will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday, January 25, 2023, in The Stride Bank Center in Enid with Senator Roger Thompson officiating. Services are under the kind guidance of the Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service and Cremation Directors.”
This comes as earlier, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation on its Facebook account shared that the two suspects were facing charges. It stated, “The male suspect in the disappearance of Athena Brownfield, 4, is facing a murder count in Oklahoma. Ivon Adams (3/12/1986) is awaiting extradition to Oklahoma on one count of Murder in the First Degree and one count of Child Neglect.
The release added, "He was taken into custody yesterday Arizona and is currently in the Maricopa County Jail. Alysia Adams (10/5/1991) was also arrested yesterday and remains in the Caddo County Jail facing two counts of Child Neglect." The statement further added that Athena’s elder sister, Adina, “is in protective custody.”
Meanwhile, the case has attracted a lot of attention online with a Facebook user commenting, “God Bless the men and women in Blue working this case, it's heartbreaking. This poor child and her sister never had a chance. Abandoned by her own parents and then these 2 barbarians didn't take care of her. Our society is broken, when children aren't protected you no longer have a civilized society.”
Another user expressed grief and wished for justice to be provided to the young child and wrote, “prayers for the innocent involved and Justice for them as well! Praying the judge and jury will be led by facts and sentence them to the fullest sentence allowed.” “Extremely heartbreaking news for sure!” the third one added.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.