Family Of Missing 4-Year-Old: ‘People Are Being Nasty And Mean'

In spite of exhaustive searches and prayers, OSBI confirms missing Athena Brownfield is no longer alive.

“I can barely talk, you just never know that it can happen to you,” said Athena’s grandmother, Penny Brownfield.

With the child's guardians now behind bars for murder and neglect, family members tell News 9 they’ve ended up in the crosshairs of an outraged public.

“All those keyboard warriors they need to just stop,” said Brownfield.

Related Story: Search For Athena Brownfield Now Considered 'Recovery' Operation By OSBI

A passionate community showed up for Athena Brownfield, day after day, they hoped to find her safe.

“Heartbroken, just want her home,” said an emotional volunteer.

Days following her disappearance, Alysia Adams was jailed on two counts of child neglect. Last week her estranged husband Ivon was tracked to Arizona. He appeared in court on a first-degree murder complaint.

Following their arrests, social media comments erupted into a flurry of anger and outrage, Athena's paternal grandmother said her family received death threats.

“People are being nasty and mean, and blaming innocent family members,” said Brownfield.

In a post to Facebook, one person wrote” I hope someone can answer this. Where are her parents?”

Another person said this would have never happened “if she'd been with people who loved her.”

Another commenter said more people should be held responsible and said “There better be more than two arrests made when this all comes out.”

A woman related to Athena's biological mother, who did not want to be identified, out of fear of being further berated by the public, told News 9 that Athena's mother "is not a horrible human being." She said the mother temporarily entrusted her daughters to her cousin, Alysia, a year and a half ago.

The relative said “Athena’s mother is grieving right now, she's just trying her best to process it, and cope with it, the best way she knows how, " said the relative.