Oklahoma and federal law enforcement are searching for a missing 4-year-old girl who was reported missing Tuesday afternoon in Cyril. Here is what we know so far:Who is Athena?Authorities are searching for 4-year-old Athena Brownfield. She has blonde hair and was last seen wearing a butterfly hoodie. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation initially said Athena is 3 but has since confirmed that she is 4. Flyers being circulated around Cyril say Athena may have been wearing a pink sweater and pants before she was reported missing.Arrests madeAuthorities have confirmed that two caretakers have been arrested amid the investigation into Athena’s disappearance.Alysia Adams, 32, was arrested around 4:10 p.m. Thursday on two counts of child neglect. On Friday, authorities confirmed that her husband, Ivon Adams, was arrested in Maricopa County, Arizona, and is being held on a fugitive justice complaint.The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Athena and her 5-year-old sister were in Alysia and Ivon Adams’ care.When asked if the Department of Human Services was involved in the case in any way, authorities said “no comment.”Timeline of eventsThe investigation into Athena’s disappearance started around 2 p.m. local time Tuesday after a mail carrier found an unattended 5-year-old girl – whom OSBI says is Athena’s sister – near their home in the 200 block of West Nebraska Avenue in Cyril.Oklahoma law enforcement and the FBI have conducted searches and an investigation into the disappearance since then. Brook Arbeitman, with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said law enforcement is working to put together an exact timeline of when Athena was last seen.”We’re still working on putting together the exact timeline. But again, I can confirm that this investigation really kicked off yesterday at 2 p.m. when the postal carrier located the 5-year-old and contacted the police department. And then we got involved later that night,” Arbeitman said. “Then, of course, all of our law enforcement partners have joined us, and we’ve been looking for her nonstop since the original call came into the police department.”The searchAuthorities say the search has been underway since learning that Athena was missing Tuesday afternoon.Law enforcement has deployed infrared helicopters and conducted grid searches on foot with the help of volunteers and using four-wheelers. They also have utilized boats on small ponds. “Our ERT Team, which is a team specialty trained to go on foot in search of people and things, are out in coordination with civilians who have come and wanted to volunteer their time and effort,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster said.Arbeitman said they are collecting items that could be relevant, but she said she’s not calling them evidence as of Wednesday afternoon.”We are finding things around town that could be helpful in this case,” Arbeitman said. “We are finding things that we hope might give us clues on where she is. We’re still actively looking for her.”Arbeitman said the ground grid search with volunteers was called off Wednesday afternoon, but authorities brought in Oklahoma Department of Corrections dogs to search for Athena. On Thursday, Cyril town officials posted on social media that, per the OSBI, all trash pickup will be postponed until further notice.How to help Good Samaritans have set up ways to raise money to help Athena and her 5-year-old sister.First, a bank account has been set up for people to donate money. Click here to donate. Anyone can donate at any First National Bank location.Also, T-shirts will be available to buy on Facebook. Click here to get a shirt.Where is Cyril, Oklahoma?Cyril is a town located in Caddo County and is a little more than an hour’s drive southwest of Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma and federal law enforcement are searching for a missing 4-year-old girl who was reported missing Tuesday afternoon in Cyril.
Here is what we know so far:
Who is Athena?
Authorities are searching for 4-year-old Athena Brownfield. She has blonde hair and was last seen wearing a butterfly hoodie.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation initially said Athena is 3 but has since confirmed that she is 4.
Flyers being circulated around Cyril say Athena may have been wearing a pink sweater and pants before she was reported missing.
Arrests made
Authorities have confirmed that two caretakers have been arrested amid the investigation into Athena’s disappearance.
Alysia Adams, 32, was arrested around 4:10 p.m. Thursday on two counts of child neglect. On Friday, authorities confirmed that her husband, Ivon Adams, was arrested in Maricopa County, Arizona, and is being held on a fugitive justice complaint.
The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Athena and her 5-year-old sister were in Alysia and Ivon Adams’ care.
When asked if the Department of Human Services was involved in the case in any way, authorities said “no comment.”
Timeline of events
The investigation into Athena’s disappearance started around 2 p.m. local time Tuesday after a mail carrier found an unattended 5-year-old girl – whom OSBI says is Athena’s sister – near their home in the 200 block of West Nebraska Avenue in Cyril.
Oklahoma law enforcement and the FBI have conducted searches and an investigation into the disappearance since then.
Brook Arbeitman, with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, said law enforcement is working to put together an exact timeline of when Athena was last seen.
“We’re still working on putting together the exact timeline. But again, I can confirm that this investigation really kicked off yesterday at 2 p.m. when the postal carrier located the 5-year-old and contacted the police department. And then we got involved later that night,” Arbeitman said. “Then, of course, all of our law enforcement partners have joined us, and we’ve been looking for her nonstop since the original call came into the police department.”
The search
Authorities say the search has been underway since learning that Athena was missing Tuesday afternoon.
Law enforcement has deployed infrared helicopters and conducted grid searches on foot with the help of volunteers and using four-wheelers. They also have utilized boats on small ponds.
“Our ERT Team, which is a team specialty trained to go on foot in search of people and things, are out in coordination with civilians who have come and wanted to volunteer their time and effort,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster said.
Arbeitman said they are collecting items that could be relevant, but she said she’s not calling them evidence as of Wednesday afternoon.
“We are finding things around town that could be helpful in this case,” Arbeitman said. “We are finding things that we hope might give us clues on where she is. We’re still actively looking for her.”
Arbeitman said the ground grid search with volunteers was called off Wednesday afternoon, but authorities brought in Oklahoma Department of Corrections dogs to search for Athena.
On Thursday, Cyril town officials posted on social media that, per the OSBI, all trash pickup will be postponed until further notice.
How to help
Good Samaritans have set up ways to raise money to help Athena and her 5-year-old sister.
First, a bank account has been set up for people to donate money. Click here to donate. Anyone can donate at any First National Bank location.
Also, T-shirts will be available to buy on Facebook. Click here to get a shirt.
Where is Cyril, Oklahoma?
Cyril is a town located in Caddo County and is a little more than an hour’s drive southwest of Oklahoma City.
