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10
“They Were Trying To Cover It Up”: After 11YO Gives Birth At Home, Cops Arrest Stepdad And Mom
Cherie and Dustin Walker, the mother and stepfather of an 11-year-old girl from Muskogee County, Oklahoma, are facing felony child neglect charges after prosecutors say the child was forced to give birth to a full-term baby inside her home without any medical assistance.
The horrifying ordeal came to light on August 16, when the young girl was rushed to a hospital after delivering the baby. According to investigators, the girl had not seen a doctor in more than a year and received no prenatal care during her pregnancy.
Highlights
- The 11-year-old girl reportedly delivered a full-term baby at home without medical assistance.
- Parents Cherie and Dustin Walker are facing felony child neglect charges in Muskogee County.
- Prosecutors are awaiting DNA results to determine the baby’s paternity and possible further charges.
“I was horror-stricken,” Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson said.
“Not only because it was an 11-year-old little girl who’s given birth, but because she had no medical care, and she had no one to be with her.”
RELATED:
The parents of an 11-year-old girl forced to give birth alone are now facing felony child neglect charges
Image credits: KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2 / YouTube
Prosecutors allege that both Cherie, 33, and Dustin, 34, failed at nearly every level of parental responsibility.
They are accusing them not only of ignoring their daughter’s worsening physical state during pregnancy, but of allowing her to endure the traumatic process of childbirth completely alone.
Image credits: KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2 / YouTube
The girl, who was 36 weeks pregnant, reportedly delivered the baby at home without any professional assistance, pain relief, or adult guidance.
The case was described by authorities as one of the most “horrific” examples of neglect and ab*se they’ve ever seen, with Hutson explaining the life-altering consequences of the incident.
Image credits: KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2 / YouTube
“This child is traumatized,” the attorney said. “She’s been through a horrific ordeal. Not only has somebody gotten her pregnant, but she gave birth at home without medical assistance.
“This will be her life for the rest of her days.”
Authorities confirmed that the girl had not seen a doctor in more than a year.
More than that, she had been completely isolated from anyone who could’ve helped her. There was no prenatal care, no school enrollment, and no guardian to take care of her, even as her body changed over the course of nine months.
Despite this, both Cherie and Dustin Walker tried to defend themselves by claiming they were “unaware” of their daughter’s pregnancy.
The parents claim they were unaware of their daughter’s pregnancy, even as her body dramatically changed
Image credits: Muskogee County Sheriff’s Office / Facebook
The claim was immediately met with disbelief by both prosecutors and the public.
“Why would they not immediately take that child to the emergency room or call an ambulance when they saw something happening to her if they didn’t know she was pregnant?” a reader asked.
“She had to be screaming in pain. They were trying to cover it up.”
Image credits: KJRH -TV | Tulsa | Channel 2 / YouTube
Now, the girl’s siblings have been removed from the household, and authorities are investigating whether the family had intentionally kept the children out of school in an effort to avoid scrutiny.
Homeschooling, if confirmed, may have created an environment where no outsiders were able to detect the ab*se or intervene.
Image credits: newson6
“We rely on teachers, medical professionals, people in the community to be those people who stand up and say something,” Hutson added.
“But if a child isn’t going to school, if they’re not seeing a doctor, if they’re cut off from those safety nets, it becomes much harder.”
Image credits: newson6
Authorities are still waiting on paternity test results to determine who fathered the baby, and whether further criminal charges are warranted.
Hutson, however, believes the truth is already lurking in plain sight: a truth the child may be too afraid or too broken to voice, but one she carries with her every moment.
“I do anticipate filing additional charges,” she said. “And amending that information shortly.”
Investigators are awaiting DNA test results to determine whether additional charges are warranted
Still, not everyone believes the Walkers are guilty of deliberate neglect.
Michelle, the maternal grandmother of the child, has publicly defended her daughter and son-in-law, describing them as loving parents caught in a massive misunderstanding.
Image credits: newson6
“They’ve made my daughter and my son-in-law a monster. They are not,” Michelle told local media.
“They love those children. They love them. I just want people to know, we did not know this was happening. None of us.”
Image credits: newson6
Hutson, on the other hand, called the case one of the most disturbing she’s seen in her career, and took the chance to issue a reminder to the public:
“There are resources available. You can reach out to law enforcement, to the Department of Human Services, or to the district attorney’s office if you see something that might be ab*se or neglect.”
Cherie and Dustin Walker are due in court on Wednesday, September 3.
“They must rot in jail.” Netizens were horrified by the incident, and called for justice to be served
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The Starsong Princess 3 months ago (edited)
Just looked it up and yes, the stepdad is the baby’s father according to a dna test. Charges have been upgraded to sexual abuse for him and enabling sexual abuse for the mother. Also, more charges for the abuse of all the children who were described as being kept in deplorable conditions. Truly monsters.
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
If the child is at home all the time, how could she have gotten pregnant other than by the stepdad? This is horrible. My granddaughter just turned 10 and I can't imagine a girl of her age going through this.
FreeTheUnicorn 3 months ago
Definitely something I'm sure they are investigating, but just because she was kept away from mandated reporters doesn't mean she was only in contact with her household. Someone at church, or in the neighborhood, maybe a sibling, there's no published clues to who the a****r was. Best thing we can do for kids is make sure they understand their bodies and consent. Give them confidence to tell someone if a person is pushing their boundaries.
Load More Replies...
Petra Peitsch 3 months ago (edited)
I would never ever understand the USA-style homeschool system. Don't misunderstand me, there is also a homeschool possibility in every european country, what I know. But that is a very rare exception, with strict rules overwatched. . In the USA seems to be just a natural alternative choice, and people, who should have spending years to wisen up themselves, are allowed to "homeschooling". The catastrophe coming with it is crystal clear. As for the father ... my first guess would be the step-dad, second guess: any male relative, third guess: any male "house-friend".
Tabitha 3 months ago (edited)
I’m American and I don’t understand it either. What I’ve also observed is that so many times, it’s the people who barely graduated high school who think they’re more qualified to teach their kids all they need to make it as adults than an educated and licensed professional teacher. I have one living next door to me, and I pity the kids. The little girl seems bright enough, but the little boy’s behavior gives off extreme neurodivergent vibes, the type where he would be 1000% better served if he was in a public school that had specially trained teachers and could put him on an IEP to help him, not only scholastically but also behaviorally, so he can keep up as best he can with his age group peers, as well as learn how to get along with others. Isolating him at home with parents who have zero training in how to teach a neurodivergent child is doing him a huge disservice. If homeschooling in the US was regulated and inspected regularly, I would feel better about the futures of the upcoming generations of homeschooled kids.
Load More Replies...
The Starsong Princess 3 months ago (edited)
Just looked it up and yes, the stepdad is the baby’s father according to a dna test. Charges have been upgraded to sexual abuse for him and enabling sexual abuse for the mother. Also, more charges for the abuse of all the children who were described as being kept in deplorable conditions. Truly monsters.
Mel in Georgia 3 months ago
If the child is at home all the time, how could she have gotten pregnant other than by the stepdad? This is horrible. My granddaughter just turned 10 and I can't imagine a girl of her age going through this.
FreeTheUnicorn 3 months ago
Definitely something I'm sure they are investigating, but just because she was kept away from mandated reporters doesn't mean she was only in contact with her household. Someone at church, or in the neighborhood, maybe a sibling, there's no published clues to who the a****r was. Best thing we can do for kids is make sure they understand their bodies and consent. Give them confidence to tell someone if a person is pushing their boundaries.
Load More Replies... Petra Peitsch 3 months ago (edited)
I would never ever understand the USA-style homeschool system. Don't misunderstand me, there is also a homeschool possibility in every european country, what I know. But that is a very rare exception, with strict rules overwatched. . In the USA seems to be just a natural alternative choice, and people, who should have spending years to wisen up themselves, are allowed to "homeschooling". The catastrophe coming with it is crystal clear. As for the father ... my first guess would be the step-dad, second guess: any male relative, third guess: any male "house-friend".
Tabitha 3 months ago (edited)
I’m American and I don’t understand it either. What I’ve also observed is that so many times, it’s the people who barely graduated high school who think they’re more qualified to teach their kids all they need to make it as adults than an educated and licensed professional teacher. I have one living next door to me, and I pity the kids. The little girl seems bright enough, but the little boy’s behavior gives off extreme neurodivergent vibes, the type where he would be 1000% better served if he was in a public school that had specially trained teachers and could put him on an IEP to help him, not only scholastically but also behaviorally, so he can keep up as best he can with his age group peers, as well as learn how to get along with others. Isolating him at home with parents who have zero training in how to teach a neurodivergent child is doing him a huge disservice. If homeschooling in the US was regulated and inspected regularly, I would feel better about the futures of the upcoming generations of homeschooled kids.
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