LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky police have made arrests in the case of a missing 4-year-old girl, after discovering what they believe to be the child’s body. According to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. the cousin of the girl, Brittany Slaughter, 24, and her boyfriend, Adam Hayes, 34, now face multiple charges including murder and abuse of a corpse as of November 17.
Chloe Darnell, who was last seen in September, was not reported missing until recently, prompting an investigation by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. On Friday, authorities announced that a body, believed to be Darnell’s, had been located.
The condition in which the body was found remains unclear, but it has been sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for an autopsy and positive identification.
Initially, both Slaughter and Darnell were considered missing persons. However, an update from the department revealed that Slaughter’s welfare was reported as unharmed after the discovery of a red Mitsubishi Lancer that she may have been operating. The vehicle was found on Thursday.
In the early hours of Friday morning, Slaughter was arrested and taken into custody, followed by Hayes, who faced additional charges of possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana, and trafficking in heroin.
Police have noted that additional charges against both Slaughter and Hayes are pending as the investigation continues.
The body believed to be Darnell’s has been sent for official identification and an autopsy. Slaughter’s bond is set at $1.5 million, while Hayes must post $1.605 million for pretrial release.