How Could You? Hall of Shame-Athena Brownfield case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

A 2022 case has come to light.

From Cyril, Oklahoma, kinship guardians, Ivon Adams and Alysia Adams, were arrested for the killing of their 4-year-old  relative, Athena Brownfield.

“Athena Brownfield has been missing since Jan. 10 [2023] when a postal carrier discovered her 5-year-old sister alone outside the home the girls shared with the caregivers, Ivon Adams and Alysia Adams, in Cyril, about 70 miles (113 kilometers) southwest of Oklahoma City.

The search for the child is now a “recovery operation,” the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said Monday.

Ivon Adams, 36, was arrested in Arizona on murder and child neglect charges and awaits extradition. Alysia Adams, 31, is jailed in Oklahoma on child neglect charges.

An affidavit says Alysia Adams told investigators that her husband beat the child at about midnight Dec. 25.[2022]

Athena “was not moving and her eyes were barely open” Alysia Adams said, according to the affidavit by OSBI Lt. Brenna Alvarez. Ivon Adams “then laid her on the ground and punched her at least three more times in the chest” and the child “never moved after that.”

“Ivon Adams left the home with Athena at about 1 a.m. Dec. 26 and later returned, saying he buried her body on land the Adams once owned close to the nearby town of Rush Springs, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of Cyril, marking the site with “a large broken branch.”

Authorities have been searching that area. An OSBI spokesperson did not immediately return phone calls and texts from The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Ivon Adams has waived extradition in Oklahoma and remains jailed in Maricopa County, Arizona, pending extradition.

“I want to get there and take care of it,” Adams told a judge during a hearing Friday in Maricopa County court. “I need to get there and fight this.”

Court documents do not list attorneys who could speak on the behalf of either of the Adams.

Brandon Bryant, who said he and his wife were once neighbors of the Adams, said Tuesday that he had little interaction with the couple, but saw nothing unusual from them.

“Didn’t see anything out of the normal. We talked to Alysia a few times, Ivon never,” Bryant said. “We never went into their house, Alysia came over to our house a few times … we gave her a car seat.”

Bryant, whose children are 5 and 10 years old, said he still considers Cyril, with a population of about 800, a safe place.

“Its a small town, it’s probably one of the few places on earth I would consider leaving my doors unlocked at night … it’s still a good place to live,” Bryant said.

The OSBI has said the girls and the Adams’ are related and the affidavit said that the children’s biological mother had left them with the couple 1 1/2 to 2 years ago with the girls calling Alysia “mom” or “Aly” and Ivon “dad” or “Uncle Ivon.”

The children’s biological mother and father are cooperating with investigators, according to the OSBI.”

Affidavit: Missing Oklahoma girl beaten to death, buried
[Court TV 6/5/23 by Ken Miller/AP]

[Plot twist]

“A caregiver accused of murdering 4-year-old Athena Brownfield in Grady County has a new legal team.”

“New court documents show that Alysia Adams has new representation, making it her second defense team since being charged with murder. In November 2024, she turned down a plea deal, and the case will go to trial.”

“Her trial is still set for November. The death penalty is on the table for Alysia Adams if she’s found guilty after rejecting the plea deal.”

Caregiver accused of killing 4-year-old Athena Brownfield has new legal team
[Koco 10/17/25 by Jonathan Greco]

“A trial date has been set for the man charged in the death of a four-year-old girl from Cyril.

According to online court records, Ivon Adams’ arraignment has been scheduled for May first.

He’s charged with second degree murder and unlawful removal of a body in the death of Athena Brownfield.

He and Alysia Adams were the guardians of Athena whose body was found in a grave in rural Grady county in early 2023.

He was initially charged with first degree murder but his charge was amended in December of 2023.

Alysia who is charged with first degree murder in the child’s death has a scheduling conference set for next week.

Athena’s mother, Karma Tucker, has had her trial set for April First.”

Trial date set for man charged in death of four-year-old girl from Cyril
[KSWO 2/20/26 by Alex Rosa-Figueroa]

“According to officials, Brownfield and her sister were under the care of Ivon and Alysia Adams for about a year and a half prior to the child’s death. Investigators said the pair starved Brownfield, who only weighed 23 pounds. Court documents reveal Ivon beat the child to death on Christmas Day in 2022, then buried her body in Rush Springs. The State Medical Examiner ruled Brownfield’s cause of death as acute pneumonia made worse by malnutrition.”

“Meanwhile, Brownfield’s biological mother, Jasmin Brownfield, who legally changed her name to Karma Tucker, is expected to go to trial on two counts of child neglect charges on April 1. Investigators say Tucker left the two girls in Ivon and Alysia’s care. The girls’ grandparents told News 9 in November 2024 they had searched for the children for years after Tucker took them and disappeared.”

New court dates set in Athena Brownfield’s murder case
[News 9 2/23/26 by Amanda Siew]

REFORM Puzzle Piece