Disappearance, murder of Cyril girl captivated state, nation

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CYRIL — The story of a 4-year-old Cyril girl first declared missing and later found to be dead captivated Oklahoma and the nation this year.

For a week in January, local, state and national media shared the story of the search for young Athena Brownfield. During the search, the story of her abuse and neglect would shine a light into the life of a child neglected.

Athena was discovered missing Jan. 10 after Athena’s 5-year-old sister alerted postal carrier Maci Myers that she had been home alone. When Myers reported what the girl told her to Cyril police, it led to seven days of searching the community, surrounding area and, eventually, land in Grady County where Athena’s remains were discovered.

Myers was recognized in May with the Postmaster General Hero Award for her role in discovering that Athena Brownfield was missing.

However, police didn’t know Athena was missing until speaking with Alysia Adams, 32. Then they learned Athena and her sister were living with Adams and her husband, Ivon Neil Adams III, 38. Athena’s biological mother, Jasmin Brownfield, Alysia Adams’ cousin, had left the girls in the care of the couple the year before due to experiencing mental health issues that left her feeling she couldn’t care for the girls properly, according to investigators.

Investigators learned the girls had not been enrolled in school nor had they received regular doctor’s visits. Until the search began, many in Cyril didn’t know the girls existed.

Over the course of the search, Cyril Police and the Caddo County Sheriff’s Department were assisted by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Emergency Response Team in conducting a grid search that included a host of volunteers. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections brought its search dogs to the area and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs flew drones over Cyril in hopes of finding the girl.

On Jan. 12, Alysia Adams was taken into custody and she later made her initial appearance for two counts of child neglect. She told investigators her husband, Ivon, had beaten the girl to death the night of Christmas 2022 at their home in Cyril. Early the next morning, she said he buried her on the land outside of Rush Springs, according to the arrest warrant affidavit.

Recovered phone data backed up the claim of Ivon Adams’ travels, the affidavit states.

Ivon Adams took the couple’s four biological children to his wife’s family in Phoenix, Ariz., on Jan. 7. Athena’s 5-year-old sister, also in the Adams’ care, was left at the home alone. Social media posts by Alysia Adams from the weekend before the girl’s discovery revealed she’d been in Oklahoma City with another man when her husband left.

Ivon Adams was arrested in Phoenix, Ariz., on Jan. 12 following the issuance of a first-degree murder and child neglect arrest warrant from Caddo County. After waiving extradition, he made his initial appearance Jan. 20 in Caddo County District Court, where he continues to be held without bond.

On Jan. 17, investigators located Athena’s remains on land near Rush Springs where the Adamses had once lived. Her body was taken to the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner’s office in Oklahoma City for autopsy.

Athena’s probable cause of death was determined to be from acute pneumonia that complicated her malnutrition, according to the Oklahoma Medical Examiner’s preliminary autopsy report. She weighed 24 pounds at the time of death, according to the report.

The medical examiner also reported Athena tested positive for rhinovirus/enterovirus, human adenovirus, human bocavirus and COVID-19.

After waiving their preliminary hearing on Dec. 12, charges were amended by the district attorney against Ivon and Alysia Adams.

Ivon Adams’ murder charge was amended to second-degree murder, and he was given an additional charge for the unlawful removal of a dead body.

Alysia Adams’ charges were amended to first-degree or second-degree murder, as well as a single charge of child neglect, and a charge of obstructing officers.

According to the amended information, Alysia Adams is accused of causing Athena’s death due to abuse experienced while she was responsible for her health, safety, and welfare. Among the allegations is that Brownfield was put in a closet and deprived of proper nutrition and/or water.

Court records indicate the pair are being tried together. They are scheduled for formal arraignment at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 21, 2024, records indicate.

Jasmin Adina Kay Brownfield, 27, of Stillwater, the girls’ mother, was charged May 4 with two counts of child neglect by abandonment, records indicate. Following a bond reduction hearing lowering her bond from $100,000 to $50,000, she has been free since May 22.

The preliminary hearing for Jasmin Brownfield is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 3, 2024, records indicate.