Authorities in Oklahoma have charged a couple with felony child neglect after their 11-year-old daughter gave birth at home without any medical care or supervision.
According to investigators, the girl lives with her 33-year-old mother, Cherie Walker, and her 34-year-old stepfather, Dustin Walker. The married couple was arrested after their daughter delivered a full-term baby on August 16. Officials said the girl had not received any prenatal care and had not been examined by a doctor in more than a year.
The shocking case surfaced only after the child was later taken to the hospital, where medical staff confirmed she had been 36 weeks pregnant at the time of delivery. The Walkers claimed that they were unaware of the pregnancy throughout the entire 9 months.
Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson told reporters that she was horrified to learn that an 11-year-old gave birth, even worse, without medical care and proper support. According to a report, the couple had other children, and they, including the 11-year-old, were all removed from the house.
Cherie and her husband were subsequently taken into custody at the Muskogee County Jail. A bond of $100,000 was set for each of them. Their case will be mentioned in court on September 4, when they will appear before a judge.
Hutson noted that further charges could be filed, depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations, including paternity testing to determine the identity of the baby’s father.
Reports also indicate that officials are focused on the well-being of the child, who endured the physical and emotional strain of childbirth at such a young age. Hutson described the ordeal as deeply traumatising for the child, saying, “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.”