Virginia couple remains in Westmoreland prison as deputies believe toddler died in their care

SOUTH GREENSBURG, Pa. — A couple wanted for questioning in connection with a missing 3-year-old girl from Virginia was arrested at a South Greensburg motel last week.

State troopers and the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force took Candi Jo Royer, 31, and her fugitive boyfriend Travis R. Brown, 29, into custody at the Knights Inn on South Main Street. The couple is from Waynesboro, Virginia.

Investigators found drugs and checks that were stolen from Virginia.

The pair were wanted for questioning in the disappearance of Khaleesi Hope Cuthriell. There was no sign of her when Brown and Royer were arrested.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WPXI apps for alerts as news breaks]

Investigators from Virginia traveled to the Westmoreland County Prison to question Brown and Boyer. The pair will be extradited back to Virginia to face several charges, including abuse and neglect of a child.

Both Brown and Royer have also been locally charged with forgery, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and four counts of receiving stolen property.

Investigators continued to search for Cuthriell, who hadn’t been seen since February but was only officially reported missing on Sept. 7.

On Tuesday, authorities in Virginia said they are presuming she is dead and now turning the search into a recovery mission. They have not yet found her body. Deputies said the investigation has now revealed Cuthriell died while in their care.

Cuthriell was placed in the care of Royer in October 2020 by her mother Amandy Arey, who was in the Middle River Regional Jail.

Arey was later told that Royer gave the little girl to the child’s aunt. Investigators were unable to find Cuthriell and friends of Royer said they had not seen Cuthriell with Royer since February 2021.

Friends remember 15-year-old shot, killed at haunted hayride

Cox Media Group