Parents arrested for alleged murder and burial of 2-year-old daughter in nature reserve

REDDING, Calif. (KHSL) – The parents of a 2-year-old girl were arrested after allegedly killing her and then burying her in a nature preserve.

Riley Royal, 28, and Amanda Royal, 24, are charged with murder with special allegations and child abuse resulting in death.

The arrest came after detectives conducted a welfare check on the 2-year-old child in January.

Detectives learned from the Royals that their two-year-old daughter had died in October and had been unlawfully buried.

Detectives discovered that the child was buried near the Whiskeytown National Recreation Area three months after the child’s death.

After the child’s body was exhumed, detectives determined the cause of death was homicide.

Two neighbors say it’s devastating to hear what happened.

“You can’t just kill your kids,” Terry Knickerbocker said.

The Shasta County Major Crimes Unit says during their initial contact with the couple in January, they discovered another child was living with the Royals.

That child has been placed in protective custody at Shasta County Children’s Services.

Both Riley Royal and Amanda Royal are in the Shasta County Jail without bail.