Authorities say two people have been charged with murder after the body of a missing 4-year-old Kentucky girl was found

Two people have been arrested in Kentucky in connection with an alleged murder after authorities said they believe they have found the body of a 4-year-old girl who was reported missing this week but has not been seen since September.

A body believed to be that of Chloe Darnell was discovered and sent to the Frankfort Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and identification, according to a release Friday from the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. Facebook page.

In addition to the murder, Brittany Slaughter, 24, and Adam Hayes, 34, both of Williamsburg, Kentucky, are charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department said Slaughter was under Chloe’s custody.

On a verified GoFundMe page for Chloe, her last name was spelled differently than it was spelled by the Sheriff’s Department.

Chloe was a “bright, happy baby” who met an “unhappy ending,” according to a GoFundMe account organized by a family member. Slaughter is Chloe’s aunt, according to the fundraiser.

The child’s relatives and friends became suspicious because they had not been able to see or talk to the girl for the past month, the GoFundMe said. Chloe had seven siblings, according to the fundraiser.

In other updates to the investigation, the Sheriff’s Department said Wednesday they are searching for a red Mitsubishi Lancer that Slaughter was said to be driving before she and Chloe disappeared. The two were reported missing, according to the Sheriff’s Department, which added: “Initial reports indicate that Chloe has not been seen since late September of this year.”

The Sheriff’s Department said Thursday that they had found the vehicle they were looking for. That same day, Slaughter was found unharmed, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

No one from the Sheriff’s Department could immediately be reached Saturday for comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com