‘They just got arrested?’: Parents charged more than a year after killing 2-year-old, burying body in wilderness, police say

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 accused of beating the toddler to death and trying to dispose of the evidence.

Riley Royal, 28, and his wife, Amanda Royal, 24, were taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with one count each of murder with special allegations and child abuse resulting in death, authorities announced.

According to a news release from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, deputies on Jan. 7, 2024 responded to a call requesting a welfare check on a 2-year-old female child at a residence in the 20000 block of Sunset Lane in Redding, California, which is about 150 miles northwest of Sacramento.

Deputies were unable to contact anyone at the residence, but were eventually able to get in touch with the toddler’s parents — Riley and Amanda Royal — over the telephone.

“The parents told deputies they were not home; however, they were both later located inside the residence attempting to elude law enforcement,” prosecutors wrote in the release states.

Unable to locate the toddler at the home, investigators questioned both parents as to the little girl’s whereabouts and learned that the child had died three months earlier and been “unlawfully buried,” the sheriff’s office said. Detectives with the sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation.

During the initial contact with the Royals, another child was located in their care and placed in protective custody with Shasta County Children’s Services.

“Detectives further interviewed Riley and Amanda and learned the child had passed away in October of 2023. Detectives learned the child had been physically abused and had been buried west of Redding near the Whiskeytown Recreation area,” the release states. “Detectives and Deputy Coroner Investigators exhumed the victim’s body on January 8th, 2024. An autopsy and other medical tests were later performed, and the manner of death was ultimately ruled as a homicide.”

An arrest warrant for both Riley Royal and Amanda Royal was issued and executed on Oct. 29, 2024, and the couple were charged with their daughter’s murder.

Both parents were initially scheduled to appear in court for their arraignments on Thursday, but the proceedings were continued until Monday.

In a statement to the Independent, Amanda Riley’s defense attorney, Benjamin Magid, said people should not make assumptions about his client’s actions until all of the facts come out.

“The community, as of right now, has absolutely no idea what happened in the case, right? No idea, they see a headline,” Magid reportedly said. “This happens all the time. People make comments without having any actual knowledge of the case. My hope would be that people can put away the pitchforks and wait for the evidence, because the evidence is going to show that she’s not guilty.”

Magid reportedly added that his client plans to plead not guilty to the charges.

Both parents are being held in the Shasta County Jail without bond.

Local residents were stunned by news of the arrest.

“They’ve been here the whole time and they just got arrested?” Coleen Shreck, who lives in the area, told Chico, California, CBS and CW affiliate KHSL.

Authorities emphasized that the investigation into the child’s death remains ongoing and encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or by email at [email protected].

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