Account
Mar 09, 2022
Jun 27, 2024
Khaleesi
Cuthriell
6
3
37 inches
41 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
In a quiet corner of Waynesboro, Virginia, a story of profound sadness and loss unfolded around a bright-eyed, three-year-old girl named Khaleesi Hope Cuthriell. With blonde hair and blue eyes, Khaleesi was last seen in January 2021. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance were complicated and deeply troubling. In October 2020, while her mother was incarcerated, Khaleesi was placed in the care of a woman named Candi Jo Royer. This arrangement, intended to provide a safe and stable environment for the young child, would tragically lead to a different outcome. The last known images of Khaleesi, taken a few months before her third birthday, show a smiling and healthy little girl. The situation took a dark turn when Khaleesi's mother, still in jail, learned that Royer herself had been reported missing in September 2021. Alarmed and unable to get in touch with Royer or her boyfriend, Travis Brown, Khaleesi's mother alerted the authorities to her daughter's precarious situation. The investigation that followed uncovered a disturbing series of events. Royer and Brown were found and arrested in a Pennsylvania motel in September 2021, but Khaleesi was not with them. Initially, the couple claimed that social services had taken the child, a statement that was quickly proven false. Their story then shifted, with Brown alleging that Khaleesi had died accidentally. The investigation by the Augusta County Sheriff's Office, along with the Virginia State Police and the FBI, soon painted a grim picture of Khaleesi's final days. Evidence discovered at the home where she was staying, including disturbing photos and videos, revealed that the little girl had been subjected to severe neglect and abuse. Investigators found Khaleesi's blood in the house, and it was clear she had been in a state of distress. The search for a missing child tragically turned into a recovery mission, as authorities announced they believed Khaleesi had died while in the care of Royer and Brown. The case that began as a search for a missing child evolved into a homicide investigation, shining a light on the devastating impact of child abuse. In August 2023, Travis Brown was convicted of aggravated murder, felony murder, and child abuse in Khaleesi's death. Shortly after, Candi Royer pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Despite the convictions, a profound piece of the tragedy remains unresolved: Khaleesi's body has never been found. Investigators believe her remains may be in a landfill, a location that presents immense challenges for a thorough search. The case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the vulnerability of children and the devastating consequences of abuse and neglect. The story of Khaleesi Hope Cuthriell is one of a life cut short, a loss that has deeply affected a community and highlighted the critical importance of child welfare.
Jan 10, 2021
Waynesboro
Virginia
Augusta County
Waynesboro
No
112993
Augusta County Sheriff's Office
Verona
Virginia
Augusta County
24482
Steven Cason
Investigations Lieutenant
127 Lee Hwy, Virginia
5402455333
County
Law Enforcement
2021-0002588
2021-09-08
Augusta County Sheriff's Office
na
Blond/Strawberry
Blue
Blue
yes
06/01/2026
