In a devastating turn of events, an Arizona couple initially reported their 10-month-old daughter as kidnapped from a campsite has instead been arrested and charged with her murder.
Police in Safford, Arizona, revealed that the parents, 23-year-old Angelica Faith Parish and 28-year-old Brandon Ray Parrish, are now facing first-degree murder and child abuse charges following the death of their infant, Ella Rae.
The case began when the couple frantically reported that their baby had been snatched from their tent at the Cottonwood Campground on Saturday, June 29th. They claimed an intruder had entered the tent and taken the child while they slept.
A Massive Search Turns to a Murder Investigation
Law enforcement agencies, including the Graham County Sheriff's Office, launched an extensive search operation. However, investigators quickly grew suspicious of the parents' inconsistent and changing accounts of the events.
"During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that the parents' stories were inconsistent and ultimately not matching up with the facts," a police statement confirmed.
The tragic discovery was made on Monday, July 1st, when the body of baby Ella was found. Police have not disclosed the location or the cause of death, stating only that the investigation is ongoing.
Charges Laid Against Grieving Parents
The parents, who were initially treated as victims, were taken into custody shortly after the grim discovery. They are currently being held without bond at the Graham County Adult Detention Facility.
Court documents state the couple is charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of child abuse. The community of Safford, a small city roughly 125 miles northeast of Tucson, has been left reeling by the horrific news.
The case serves as a chilling reminder of the complex and often hidden nature of crime, where the first story told is not always the truth.
