Infant Death Investigation

(ALLIANCE, Neb.) — The Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an infant death that occurred last month. This is the second infant this family has lost in less than 5 years.

Alyssa Parkins was arrested in Alliance, Nebraska, on July 1, 2026, in connection with the June 2026 death of her 9-month-old daughter.

Court records from her arrest revealed a direct connection to a 2022 infant death, where her then-10-month-old daughter was killed by her biological father, Riley Lenhart. Lenhart was convicted in 2023 of intentional child abuse leading to death in Dawes County District Court. He is currently serving a sentence of 60 years to life in prison.

Pictured here: Madilynn Paige Lenhart (August 18, 2021-June 19, 2022) and Catrina Lynn Rau (September 19, 2025 – June 22, 2026)

From Box Butte Sheriff’s Office

On June 22, 2026, the Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Box Butte General Hospital regarding the death of a 9-month-old infant.

During the course of the initial investigation, numerous concerns were identified. Those concerns led Deputies to conduct an extensive and ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.

This investigation remains active, and additional details are not being released at this time to protect the integrity of the case and individuals involved.

As a result of this investigation, Alyssa Parkins has been arrested and charged with:

Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Death, a Class IB Felony
Strangulation Resulting in Death, a Class IIA Felony
2 separate counts of Intentional Child Abuse Not Resulting in Injury or Death, Class IIIA Felonies.

Under Nebraska law, a Class IB Felony carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment upon conviction.

The Box Butte County Sheriff’s Office would like to acknowledge the assistance provided by the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, the Alliance Police Department, and the Nebraska State Patrol during this investigation.

As with all criminal cases, the charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Further information may be released as it becomes available and when doing so will not compromise the ongoing investigation.

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All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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Thursday Jul 2 2026 - Scanner News - Panhandle Scanner News

Power has been restored to all services affected by the Tuesday evening storms around Lake McConaughy. Emergency responders were dispatched at around 10:38 pm Tuesday night after reports that multiple campers had been overturned near Beach Area 5. Thankfully, there were no hospitalizations, and all power has been restored. In Box Butte County, the Sheriff's Office is investigating an infant death that occurred last month. On June 22nd, the Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the Box Butte General Hospital regarding the death of a nine-month-old infant. During the course of the initial investigation, numerous concerns were identified. Those concerns led deputies to conduct an extensive and ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child's death. The investigation remains active, and all parties are innocent until proven guilty. However, as a result of the investigation, Alyssa Parkins has been arrested and charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death, strangulation resulting in death, and two separate counts of intentional child abuse, all felonies. This is the second child that has died in her custody. However, another man was charged with her first daughter's murder four years ago, almost to this day. Our prayers for that situation and everyone involved. Now, something a little lighter. How about a two-day Tabor Days celebration in Minatare, Nebraska? July 17th and 18th, the first two-day Tabor Days we can remember! Live bands both nights, a parade, emergency services, vendors, food, fun, cheerleaders... you gotta come! Tabor Days, July 17th and 18th, Minatare, Nebraska.