The parents of a 2-year-old girl who was killed and buried in the California wilderness more than a year ago have been arrested and charged with beating the baby to death and attempting to dispose of the evidence.
Riley Royal, 28, and his wife, Amanda Royal, 24, were arrested on Tuesday and charged with one count each of murder with special charges and child abuse resulting in death, authorities said.
According to a news release from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, on Jan. 7, 2024, deputies responded to a complaint requesting a welfare check on a 2-year-old female kid at a home in the 20000 block of Sunset Lane in Redding, California, roughly 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.
Deputies were unable to contact anyone at the home, but they were eventually able to speak with the toddler’s parents, Riley and Amanda Royal, over the phone.
“The parents told deputies they were not home; however, they were both later located inside the residence attempting to elude law enforcement,” prosecutors noted in the announcement.
When authorities were unable to locate the toddler at the residence, they questioned both parents about the child’s location and discovered that she had died three months prior and had been “unlawfully buried,” according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit took up the investigation.
During the initial interaction with the Royals, another youngster was discovered in their care and taken into protective custody by Shasta County Children’s Services.
“Detectives conducted additional interviews with Riley and Amanda and discovered that the infant died in October 2023. According to the announcement, detectives discovered that the youngster had been physically assaulted and was buried west of Redding near the Whiskeytown Recreation Area.
“On January 8, 2024, detectives and Deputy Coroner Investigators exhumed the victim’s body.” An autopsy and other medical tests were then conducted, and the cause of death was ultimately determined to be homicide.”
On October 29, 2024, an arrest warrant was obtained and executed for Riley Royal and Amanda Royal, who were charged with their daughter’s murder.
Both parents were supposed to appear in court for their arraignments on Thursday, but the hearing was postponed until Monday.
Amanda Riley’s defense attorney, Benjamin Magid, told the Independent that people should not conclude his client’s actions until all of the facts are revealed.
“The community currently has no understanding of what transpired in the case, correct? Magid reportedly stated, “I have no idea; they see a headline.” “It happens all the time.” People make comments without having any true knowledge of the situation. I hope that people would put aside their pitchforks and wait for the evidence since it will prove that she is not guilty.”
Magid allegedly said his client intends to plead not guilty to the accusations. Both parents are being jailed in the Shasta County Jail with no bond.
The arrest caught locals off guard.
“They’ve been here the whole time and they just got arrested?” Coleen Shreck, a Chico, California resident, told CBS and CW affiliate KHSL.
Authorities highlighted that the investigation into the child’s death is ongoing and urged anyone with information to contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or [email protected].