A mother and stepfather in Oklahoma face felony child neglect charges after their 11-year-old daughter allegedly gave birth at home without medical assistance.
Cherie Walker and Dustin Walker have been accused of failing to provide the necessary supervision and healthcare for their daughter, who reportedly gave birth to a full-term baby on August 16 in Muskogee.
Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson stated that the couple claimed they were unaware of their daughter’s pregnancy. Court documents indicate that she was 36 weeks pregnant and had not seen a doctor in over a year, nor had she received any prenatal care. The incident came to light when the girl was taken to the hospital post-delivery.
“I was horror-stricken to find out it’s an 11-year-old little girl who’s given birth,” Hutson said. “And that she had no medical care, and she had no one to be with her.” The district attorney’s office is currently awaiting paternity test results and anticipates filing further charges against the parents.
The Walkers are currently jailed in Muskogee County, each with a $100,000 bond. The girl’s grandmother defended the couple, expressing that they did not know about the situation and asserting their love for the children.
Hutson reminded the public about the importance of reporting suspected child neglect, encouraging people to contact law enforcement or child services. For those who suspect child abuse, assistance is available through the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, which offers support 24/7 in multiple languages. The couple is due in court again on September 3.