Parents arrested for allegedly killing and burying their two-year-old daughter in nature reserve

REDDING, Calif. (KHSL) — The parents of a 2-year-old girl were arrested after they allegedly killed her and then buried 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 investigators conducted a welfare check on the 2-year-old child in January.

Investigators learned from the royals that their two-year-old daughter had died in October and was illegally buried.

Investigators determined the child was buried near Whiskeytown National Recreation Area three months after his death.

After digging up the child's body, investigators determined the cause of death was homicide.

Two neighbors say it's terrible to hear what happened.

“You can’t just go around killing your kids,” Terry Knickerbocker said.

The Shasta County Major Crimes Unit said it discovered that another child was living with the royals during its first contact with the couple in January.

The child was taken into protective custody at Shasta County Children's Services.

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

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