Athena Brownfield case: Caretaker Alysia Adams charged with first-degree murder in 4-year-old's death
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OKLAHOMA CITY: Following the death of 4-year-old Athena Brownfield on Christmas Day last year in Oklahoma, prosecutors have heightened charges against the main suspect, Alysia, for first-degree murder.
Originally charged with two counts of child neglect, Alysia, 31, now faces the much graver charge of first-degree murder. Meanwhile, her husband, Ivon Adams, 37, has seen his charges downgraded from first-degree to second-degree murder.
(Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation)
What led to Athena Brownfield's death?
The case took a turn when, following Alysia's arrest in January, she confessed to investigators that her husband brutally beat Athena to death on Christmas Day.
Court documents revealed that "Alysia confessed that on December 25, 2022, around midnight that night, Ivon beat [Athena] and held her up by her arms."
“[Athena] was not moving and her eyes were barely open. He then laid her on the ground and punched her at least three more times in her chest. [Athena] never moved after that.”
Autopsy challenges Alysia Adams's confession
However, prosecutors now assert a different narrative, citing an autopsy report from the county medical examiner’s office. Contrary to the earlier confession, the autopsy found "no fatal trauma" on Athena's body, and there were no broken bones.
The cause of death was determined as "acute pneumonia complicating malnutrition," as per Law & Crime.
The amended charges allege that Alysia was responsible for “putting Athena Brownfield in a closet and depriving the child of proper nutrition,” leading to the tragic outcome.
Prosecutors have also charged her with obstructing an officer for allegedly providing false information during the investigation and one count of child neglect concerning Athena’s older sister.
The search for Athena began on January 10, 2023, after a postal carrier found her then-5-year-old sister wandering outside the Adams' house.
The subsequent investigation revealed disturbing details, with Alysia claiming her husband discarded Athena's body after beating her to death. The child's remains were later discovered near their old residence in Rush Springs.
Ivon, facing downgraded charges of second-degree murder, is additionally charged with unlawful removal of a body and child neglect.
Athena’s mother, Jasmin Adina Kay Brownfield, who allegedly abandoned her daughters with Alysia and Ivon, was arrested in May. She faces two counts of child neglect by abandonment.
