Candi Royer: Trial postponed for woman accused of murdering 3-year-old girl in her care

The trial for a woman accused of murdering a three-year-old child in her care has been moved to August, according to a WHSC report.

Candi Brown and her partner, Travis Brown, have both been charged with aggravated murder, felony murder, unlawfully concealing a dead body, conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit child abuse, and conspiracy to conceal a dead body in relation to the disappearance of toddler Khaleesi Cuthriell in February 2021, Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said at a press conference last year.

Candi Royer and Travis BrownPhoto byAugusta County Sheriff's Department

Brown faces a further charge of child abuse or neglect leading to serious injury, CBS reports.

Local, state, and federal law enforcement took part in the search for the little girl when family members reported her missing on Sept. 3, 2021, True Crime Daily reported preciously. The toddler’s mother informed police that Khaleesi was in Royer’s care at the time.

Khaleesi’s body has never been found, police say, though efforts remain underway between the Virginia State Police, the Richmond Division of the FBI, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to find her.

The Augusta County Sheriff’s office announced in Sept. 2021 that they believed Khaleesi is dead, and that Royer was a willing accomplice in a crime spree with Brown that spanned Virginia and Pennsylvania. Police previously believed Royer to also be a missing person.

Brown has been charged with aggravated murder, felony murder, unlawfully concealing a dead body, conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit child abuse, and conspiracy to conceal a dead body, Augusta County Commonwealth Attorney Tim Martin said in May 2021.

Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said Khaleesi was placed in Royer’s custody in October 2020, then went missing four months later. Khaleesi had been placed in their care while her mother was incarcerated, Martin said.

Royer was originally scheduled to face trial on May 8–12, 2023, WHSV reports, though her trial has now been moved to Oct. 16, 2023. Brown’s trial is scheduled for August 28, 2023.