An 11-year-old girl gave birth at home, leading to charges of felony child neglect against her parents.
Dustin Walker, 34, and Cherie Walker, 33, are facing accusations of neglecting their duties by not providing their daughter with necessary supervision or medical care following the birth earlier this month in Muskogee.
According to court records, the young girl was 36 weeks pregnant, although Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson informed KOTV that the parents were unaware of the pregnancy when the birth occurred on August 16.
The court filings also reveal that the girl had been without prenatal care and had not visited a medical professional for over a year prior to delivering the baby at home.
The child was subsequently taken to the hospital after giving birth at home.
Hutson expressed her shock to KOTV, stating: “I was horror-stricken to find out it’s an 11-year-old little girl who’s given birth. And that she had no medical care, and she had no one to be with her.”
“This child is traumatized. She’s been through a horrific ordeal. I mean, not only has somebody gotten her pregnant, but she gave birth at home without medical assistance, and this will be her life for the rest of her life,” she continued.
Hutson also discussed the possible home environment of the girl and her siblings, suggesting to KOTV that they may have been homeschooled instead of attending a traditional school setting.
The 11-year-old and her siblings have since been removed from their home environment.
Michelle, the grandmother of the 11-year-old, expressed her disbelief that recent events have turned “my daughter and my son-in-law a monster,” claiming the family was unaware of the pregnancy, according to KJRH.
The parents are currently held in custody, with Hutson confirming: “The guardians are currently in the Muskogee County Jail. They both have a $100,000 bond in place. Like I said, I do anticipate filing additional charges and amending that information shortly.”
They are scheduled for a court appearance on September 3.
As authorities await the results of a paternity test to determine the identity of the newborn’s father, Hutson emphasized the importance of reporting suspected child neglect to the public.
She advised KOTV viewers: “I want people to know that there are resources available to reach out to law enforcement, the Department of Human Services, or the district attorney’s office when you see something that may be abuse or neglect.”
For anyone affected by these issues or seeking confidential support regarding child welfare, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD or 1-800-422-4453) is available 24/7, serving callers from the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.