After their daughter gave birth at home, the mother and stepfather of an 11-year-old girl in Oklahoma were charged with felony child neglect.
Dustin Walker, 34, and Cherie Walker, 33, are accused of neglecting to supervise and care for their daughter, who gave birth to a full-term baby in Muskogee on August 16, according to local media sites KOTV, FOX 23, and KJRH.
According to Janet Hutson, assistant district attorney for Muskogee County, both adults told KOTV they were not aware of the pregnancy. According to court records that FOX 23 was able to obtain, the kid was 36 weeks pregnant.
In the court filings, investigators stated that the girl had not had any prenatal care and had not visited a doctor for more than a year. Hutson told KJRH that once the girl was transferred to a hospital after the delivery, officials became aware of the issue.
When I learned that the child was an 11-year-old girl, I was horrified, Hutson said. Additionally, she was alone and lacked access to medical treatment.
While officials wait for the results of a paternity test to determine the baby’s father, the district attorney stated that more charges against the parents are probably in the works.
Hutson told KOTV that the toddler was traumatized. She has endured a terrible ordeal. She not only became pregnant but also gave birth at home without the help of a doctor. She will be impacted by this for the remainder of her life.
Additionally, Hutson told KOTV that the girl and other household members might have been homeschooled.
She informed KJRH that the guardians are presently housed at the Muskogee County Jail. Each of them has a bond of $100,000. I plan to change that information and file further charges soon.
“I just want people to know, we did not know this was happening,” said the grandmother of the 11-year-old, who was identified by KJRHas Michelle. Not one of us.
They have turned my son-in-law and daughter into monsters. They’re not. “They adore those kids,” she continued, adding that she hoped to see her grandkids once more.
On Wednesday, September 3, the pair is expected to appear in court.
There are other avenues to report suspected child neglect, Hutson reminded the public.
She told KOTV, “I want people to know that when you suspect abuse or neglect, there are resources available through law enforcement, the Department of Human Services, or the district attorney’s office.”
