MUSKOGEE COUNTY, Oklahoma – The parents of an 11-year-old girl have been arrested and charged with felony child neglect after the child gave birth to a baby at home without any medical care or supervision.
According to court documents, Cherie Walker, 33, and her husband Dustin Walker, 34, were taken into custody after their daughter delivered a full-term baby inside the family’s home on August 16. The girl was reportedly 36 weeks pregnant at the time.
No Prenatal Care, No Doctor Visits
Investigators said the child had not seen a doctor in over a year and did not receive any prenatal care during her pregnancy. The incident only came to light after the girl was taken to a hospital following the birth.
Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson told FOX23 that both parents claimed they were unaware of the pregnancy.
“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.”
Both Dustin and Cherie Walker are being held in the Muskogee County Jail on $100,000 bond each. They are expected to appear in court on September 3.
Children Removed from Home
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services has removed the 11-year-old and her siblings from the home. Authorities are also awaiting the results of a paternity test to determine the father of the child.
Hutson said additional charges may be filed once those results are in.
Family Speaks Out
The girl’s grandmother, identified by KJRH as Michelle, defended the couple, saying the family had no idea the 11-year-old was pregnant.
“They’ve made my daughter and my son-in-law a monster. They are not,” Michelle said. “They love those children. They love them.”
The Bigger Picture
The case has drawn attention to the importance of child welfare vigilance. Hutson reminded the public that resources exist for reporting suspected neglect or abuse.
“I want people to know there are resources available — law enforcement, DHS, or the district attorney’s office — when you see something that may be abuse or neglect,” she told KOTV.
The investigation remains ongoing.
