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Caretaker arrested in Maricopa County after 4-year-old girl reported missing in Oklahoma

Ivon Adams is one of two caretakers being investigated in connection with the disappearance of Athena Brownfield, 4, in Cyril, Oklahoma.

PHOENIX — One of the two caretakers wanted in connection with the disappearance of a 4-year-old Oklahoma girl was arrested in Maricopa County on Thursday night, a spokesman with the Phoenix Police Department confirmed. 

Authorities began searching for 4-year-old Athena Brownfield after a postal worker found her 5-year-old sister near their home in Cyril, Oklahoma.

One of Brownfield's two caretakers, Alysia Adams, was arrested on two counts of child neglect. Her husband, Ivon, was recently arrested in Maricopa County.

The Oklahoma warrant against Ivon Adams was issued for first-degree murder and child neglect charges, court records show. 

Phoenix police arrested Adams at around 5 p.m. on Thursday near 67th Avenue and Camelback Road for outstanding felony warrants. Adams was then booked into Maricopa County jail.

As of Friday morning, Adams is being held ahead of a county court appearance.

Adams waived his right to have a hearing in Arizona to challenge extradition back to Oklahoma.

"I need to get there and fight this," Adams said during Friday's court appearance. 

Authorities in Oklahoma will have the next 30 days to transport Adams back to that state.

The search for Alysia and Ivon Adams had been underway since Tuesday afternoon when it was discovered that Brownfield was missing, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation announced.

Right now, the investigation to find the missing girl is still ongoing.

Authorities said they believe Athena was wearing a hoodie with a butterfly design when she disappeared.

The bureau said it was working with other law enforcement agencies and volunteers in the search, which included a helicopter, boats, all-terrain vehicles, a specially trained ground team, and a review of surveillance video from around Cyril.

The city of Cyril has also suspended trash service as investigators search for clues.

This is a developing story. Stay with 12News for more updates.

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