REDDING, Calif. (KHSL) – The parents of a 2-year-old girl have been arrested after allegedly killing her and burying her in a nature preserve.

Riley Royal, 28, and Amanda Royal, 24, are charged with special allegations of murder and child abuse resulting in death.

The arrest came after detectives checked on the 2-year-old boy’s welfare in January.

Detectives learned from the Royal family that their 2-year-old daughter died in October and was unlawfully buried.

Detectives discovered the boy was buried near Whiskeytown National Recreation Area three months after his death.

Detectives recovered the child’s body and determined that the cause of death was murder.

Two neighbors say it was terrible to hear what happened.

“You can’t just kill your children,” Terry Knickerbocker said.

The Shasta County Major Crimes Unit said when they first contacted the couple in January, they discovered another child was living with the Royal family.

This child was placed in protective custody at Shasta County Children’s Services.

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

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