Police in California have arrested parents in connection with the murder of their 2-year-old daughter. Riley Royal, 28, and Amanda Royal, 24, reportedly hid from police during a welfare check in January while officers tried to locate the couple’s child. An investigation led detectives to the child’s body, buried in a recreation area near Redding. On October 29, police finally arrested her parents.
According to a news release from the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, the Royals initially eluded police when they arrived at the home on January 7, looking for their daughter. Deputies reportedly tried to get the parents to open the door, but they didn’t respond. When they finally reached them via phone, deputies realized they’d been in the house the entire time. But their location allegedly wasn’t the only thing Riley and Amanda Royal hid from authorities.
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The child had reportedly died months earlier.
The sheriff’s office noted that when deputies finally contacted the parents, they interviewed them about the child’s whereabouts and quickly learned the child had died three months earlier and was “unlawfully buried.”
“Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit responded and took over the investigation. During the initial contact with Riley and Amanda, another child was located at the residence and was placed in protective custody with Shasta County Children’s Services,” the release reads.
The child allegedly suffered abuse.
According to the investigation, detectives learned the child had suffered physical abuse prior to her death. Authorities exhumed her body on January 9, near the Whiskeytown Recreation Area. After a thorough investigation and autopsy, experts determined the child died by homicide.
Police arrested the parents on October 29.
Nearly 10 months after investigators examined the child’s body, police arrested Riley and Amanda Royal. The parents face charges of murder with special allegations and child abuse resulting in death connected to their 2-year-old daughter’s death. Authorities booked Riley and Amanda Royal in Shasta County Jail without bail.
The sheriff’s office noted that the investigation continues, and anyone with information should contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or by email at [email protected].
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The child's death shocked the community.
KNVN spoke to neighbors living near the family in Redding, and many couldn’t believe the news. “It’s not something that I would wish upon any family to have to deal with that,” Terry Knickerbocker told the news outlet.
Coleen Shreck agreed, not understanding why it took so long for police to arrest the parents. “They’ve been here the whole time and just got arrested?” she questioned.
She added that the neighborhood is quiet, so seeing police is unusual. “Maybe a little over a year ago, there was about five or six policemen swarming one little area,” she continued.
Knickerbocker added that parents need accountability. “You can’t just go around killing your kids. It diminishes our society so badly,” she said.
