Shasta County: Parents Arrested for Alleged Murder of Their Infant Child
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Authorities in Shasta County have reportedly arrested two parents in connection with the death of their infant child.
In a press release, the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office announced that they had arrested Riley and Amanda Royal, 28 and 24, respectively, on murder and child abuse charges in the death of their two-year-old daughter.
The investigation began on January 7 of this year when deputies were called to the 20000 block of Sunset Lane in Redding to conduct a welfare check on the child. Initially unable to make contact with anyone at the home, deputies eventually reached the child’s parents by telephone.
Despite initially claiming they were not home, Mr. and Mrs. Royal were later found to have indeed been inside the residence and avoiding law enforcement, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies were able to finally interview the Royals regarding the whereabouts of their child, and learned that the child had actually passed away three months earlier. Deputies also learned that the child had been unlawfully buried.
At one point early in the investigation, another child was reportedly found at the Royals’ residence and placed into the custody of Child Protective Services.
As the investigation progressed, deputies learned that the two-year-old child had been physically abused and, after she died, buried near the Whiskeytown Recreation Area, west of Redding.
The child’s body was exhumed on January 8, and an autopsy and other medical examinations resulted in her death being ruled a homicide, the Sheriff’s Office said.
On October 29 of this year, both Riley and Amanda Royal were arrested on suspicion of murder with special allegations and child abuse resulting in death. They were both booked at the Shasta County jail and deemed ineligible for bail.
