Couple accused of murdering daughter found buried in yard: authorities

California authorities arrested a couple on murder charges after allegedly discovering the couple’s 2-year-old daughter was buried near their campsite.

Riley Royal, 28, and Amanda Royal, 24, were arrested on Tuesday, October 29, by Shasta County authoritiesin California, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

The investigation began Jan. 7 when Shasta County sheriff’s deputies responded to a home in Redding to check on the welfare of a 2-year-old girl, the statement said.

When they arrived home, the couple allegedly hid in the apartment, telling police over the phone that they were not there. According to the statement, police located them at a home where they “attempted to elude law enforcement.”

When police failed to find the child, who was not named in the affidavit, they questioned a couple who claimed the child had died and was “unlawfully buried,” the affidavit said.

Investigators determined that the child allegedly suffered physical abuse before his death in October 2023. After her death, which was ruled a homicide, she was buried near the Whiskeytown Recreation Area, near Redding, according to the statement.

The child’s body was exhumed on January 8, the day after the community inspection.

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Police said another child, whose age was not released in the statement, was found in the couple’s apartment and was placed with a local children’s services agency.

In the statement, Riley and Amanda were charged with special counts of murder and child abuse resulting in death. They are being held in the Shasta County Jail without bail.

Court records available online do not indicate that any of the suspects made statements. Their defense attorneys did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453 or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in over 170 languages.