On January 7th, 2024, Shasta County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the 20000 block of Sunset Lane, Redding for a welfare check of a two-year-old female child. Deputies were unable to contact anyone at the residence and eventually contacted the child’s parents via telephone. The parents told deputies they were not home; however, they were both later located inside the residence attempting to elude law enforcement.
Deputies were unable to locate the two-year-old child at the residence. Deputies interviewed both parents, 28-year-old Riley Royal and 24-year-old Amanda Royal, about the child’s whereabouts. Deputies learned the child had passed away three months prior and had been unlawfully buried.
Detectives with the Major Crimes Unit responded and took over the investigation. During the initial contact with Riley and Amanda, another child was located at the residence and was placed in protective custody with Shasta County Children’s Services.
Detectives further interviewed Riley and Amanda and learned the child had passed away in October of 2023. Detectives learned the child had been physically abused and had been buried west of Redding near the Whiskeytown Recreation area.
Detectives and Deputy Coroner Investigators exhumed the body on January 8th, 2024. An autopsy and other medical tests were later performed, and the manner of death was ultimately ruled as a homicide.
Detectives filed charges with the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office and obtained an Arrest Warrant for both parents. On October 29th, 2024, both parents were arrested for 187(a) PC – Murder with Special Allegations and 273ab(a) PC – Child Abuse Resulting in Death. Both Riley and Amanda were booked into the Shasta County Jail, with no bail. Both will be arraigned in the Shasta County Superior Court on Thursday, October 31st at 1:30 PM.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at 530-245-6135 or by email at MCU@shastacounty.gov
