STAUNTON — On January 12, 2021, Amanda Mullen, who was incarcerated at Middle River Regional Jail for a probation violation, reached out to Candi J. Royer, an Augusta County resident entrusted with caring for Mullen’s child during her confinement.
During a jail call played in Augusta County Circuit Court on Thursday at Royer’s first-degree murder sentencing hearing, Mullen conversed with her 3-year-old daughter, Khaleesi Cuthriell.
In the background, the toddler’s voice rang out, “Mommy?”
Responding affectionately, Mullen engaged with her daughter, expressing her longing to see her soon, “I love you. I can’t wait to see you. Mommy misses you.”
“I love you, Mommy,” Khaleesi reciprocated.
Little did Mullen know that this would be the final exchange between her and her beloved child.
Later that fateful day, Royer recorded herself subjecting the toddler to abuse. The disturbing video, presented during Travis Brown’s trial in August, depicted a terrified and vulnerable child enduring verbal assaults and being coerced to stand naked in a bathtub filled with her own waste.
Commanding Khaleesi to stand up, Royer’s harsh tone echoed in the video as the child, visibly distressed and frail, complied hesitantly.
By the end of that day, Khaleesi likely met her tragic fate, as confirmed by Augusta County Commonwealth’s Attorney Tim Martin, who indicated that her demise occurred before the month’s conclusion.
In a subsequent call the following month, Royer callously lied to Mullen about Khaleesi’s whereabouts, falsely claiming she was at a birthday celebration. This deceit unfolded after discussing payment with Mullen for the toddler’s care, despite Khaleesi’s probable passing at that juncture.
During his sentencing hearing, Brown, Royer’s former partner, shifted blame to Royer for the heinous crime. However, Martin emphasized that both individuals were culpable for the atrocity.
Royer, who admitted guilt to first-degree murder in September, received a life sentence from Circuit Judge Shannon Sherrill. Brown, on the other hand, was handed a life term without parole for aggravated murder, with an additional 20-year sentence for child abuse.
Following a series of criminal activities in the summer of 2021, including theft of a vehicle and a boat valued at $60,000, Brown and Royer fled to South Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Law enforcement eventually apprehended them at a motel. Concurrently, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Khaleesi’s tragic demise, although her remains were never located.
Upon searching the couple’s residence on Cattle Scales Road in Augusta County near Waynesboro, investigators discovered damning evidence, including bloodstains containing Khaleesi’s DNA, a wire hanger with traces of both Royer’s and the toddler’s DNA, and a locked door in Khaleesi’s room.
Khaleesi had been placed under the care of Royer, 44, and Brown, 32, in October 2020, following Mullen’s incarceration.
In a Facebook post dated November 8, 2020, Royer introduced Khaleesi as the newest member of their family, stating that the child would remain with them until her parents could resume care.
Despite Mullen’s initial intent to place Khaleesi with a relative, Child Protective Services (CPS) intervened, preventing the transfer. Subsequently, Royer assumed guardianship of Khaleesi, unbeknownst to CPS of Brown’s criminal background and Royer’s struggles with substance abuse.
Eleven months later, Khaleesi was reported missing, prompting a harrowing investigation that exposed the extent of the child’s suffering at the hands of her caretakers.
Brown initially misled authorities about Khaleesi’s whereabouts, concocting elaborate falsehoods before finally admitting to her tragic demise. He claimed the child’s death was a result of self-inflicted injuries, a narrative refuted by forensic evidence and expert testimony on the extent of Khaleesi’s abuse.
During Royer’s sentencing, she expressed remorse for her role in Khaleesi’s death, acknowledging her failure to protect the child. Despite claiming ignorance of the toddler’s whereabouts, Royer’s admission of culpability underscored the tragic outcome of their actions.
In the aftermath of the sentencing, Martin condemned CPS for its failure to safeguard Khaleesi, highlighting systemic oversights that contributed to the child’s untimely death.
As the search for Khaleesi’s remains remains ongoing, Martin lamented the defendants’ refusal to disclose crucial information, underscoring the enduring mystery surrounding the child’s final resting place.