US parents face neglect charges after 11-year-old daughter delivers at home

The parents are accused of feigning ignorance over their minor daughter’s pregnancy that was delivered after a full term.

The parents, identified as Cherie Walker, 33, and her stepfather, Dustin Walker, 34, are facing child neglect charges after they allegedly failed to provide supervision or medical care to the child, who gave birth at their house in Muskogee on August 16.

She was 36 weeks pregnant and gave birth to a full-term baby, according to court documents obtained by the local news station.

Investigators indicate in court documents that the 11-year-old received no prenatal care and had not been to the doctor in over a year.

She was also reportedly homeschooled, according to a story appearing in the Daily Mail.

Prosecutors only found out about the incident after the girl was taken to a local hospital following the birth of her child.

The 11-year-old girl and her five siblings have been removed from the home, according to neighbors.

“I was horror-stricken to find out it's an 11-year-old girl who's given birth, and that she had no medical care and she had no one to be with her,” Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson told local news channel KJRH.

Hutson says she is now planning on filing additional charges against Cherie and Dustin, who are being held on a $100,000 bond ahead of their scheduled September 3 court appearance.

Prosecutors are also awaiting paternity tests to determine who may have impregnated the young girl. Those may take two weeks to complete.

She added in remarks to News on 6 that the young girl is 'traumatised.' 

“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 with her... for the rest of her life.”

The young girl's grandmother, only identified as Michelle, said the community does not know the whole story.

“I just want people to know; we did not know this was happening. None of us,” she said, adding that she is upset that her daughter and son-in-law are being portrayed as 'monsters.'