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Kentucky investigators announced Friday that they arrested two murder suspects in the disappearance and death of a 4-year-old girl last seen by family members and friends in September but reported missing just days ago.
The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department said Friday that investigators believe they have found the body of 4-year-old Chloe Darnell, and that 24-year-old Brittany Slaughter, reportedly a cousin who had custody of the victim, and Slaughter’s 34-year-old boyfriend Adam Hayes, both of Williamsburg, are under arrest. (Note: while investigators wrote the victim’s last name as “Darnel,” family members spelled it “Darnell.”)
Authorities said the victim’s remains were “sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Frankfort for an autopsy and positive identification.”
The sheriff’s department indicated that additional charges might be on the horizon. As of right now, Whitley County Detention Center records reviewed by Law&Crime, show murder, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence charges against both suspects.
Though Slaughter was booked at 4:10 a.m. on Friday, according to jail records, Hayes was booked Thursday evening. In addition, jail records say that Hayes faces charges of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana, and trafficking in heroin.
Adam Hayes (Whitley County Detention Center), Chloe Darnell (Whitley County Sheriff’s Department), Brittany Slaughter (Whitley County Detention Center)
Investigators first posted about the investigation on Nov. 14, Tuesday night, considering both Darnell and Slaughter as missing persons, and noting that the 4-year-old had not been seen by worried family and friends since September.
“Brittney Slaughter and a juvenile identified as Chloe Darnel age 4 who Brittney has custody of, have both been reported missing from the Ova Lane / Canada Town Community of Whitley County,” the sheriff’s department said previously. “At this time information is limited. Brittney allegedly has family members in Ohio. Initial reports indicate Chloe has not been seen since late September of this year.”
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The next day, authorities said they were looking for a red 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer in connection with the case.
A red 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer that investigators were searching for, Chloe Darnell (photos by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department)
“Reportedly, Brittney Slaughter may have been operating this vehicle prior to her and 4 year old Chloe Darnel’s disappearance,” the sheriff’s department explained.
On Thursday, investigators found the vehicle in question and Brittany Slaughter, saying “[h]er status and welfare are reported as unharmed.”
Chloe Darnell, Brittany Slaughter (photos by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department)
Now Slaughter and Hayes both face charges that have them both behind bars. Slaughter’s total bond on the listed charges appears to be $1.5 million ($500,000 on each of her three charges). Hayes has the same bond plus $105,000 for the charged drug and firearm offenses.
A court employee told Law&Crime that the defendants are expected to be arraigned on Monday.
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