Three people in Oklahoma were arrested in connection to an 11-year-old girl who authorities say gave birth at home.
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Three people have been arrested after police say an 11-year-old girl gave birth at her Oklahoma home.
In mid-August, an 11-year-old girl was taken to a hospital after authorities said she gave birth at her home in Muskogee County, according to KOTV.
The girl’s mother and stepfather were initially arrested on child neglect charges, KFOR reported.
The parents told authorities they didn’t know the girl was pregnant and said she hadn’t been to a doctor in over a year, according to NBC News.
However, DNA results showed the girl’s stepfather was the father of the baby, KFOR reported.
McClatchy News is not naming the parents to protect the identity of the girl.
“This child is traumatized. 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 her life for the rest of her life,” Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson told KOTV in a statement.
The stepfather has since been charged with sexual abuse of a child under 12 and the girl’s mom has been charged with enabling child sexual abuse, court records show.
On Aug. 29, a third person was arrested after police said she knew the girl was pregnant but failed to report it, KFOR reported.
If you suspect a child has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect, your first step should be to contact the appropriate agency. The Child Welfare Information Gateway has a list of state agencies you can contact. Find help specific to your area here.
For additional help, the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline has professional crisis counselors available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in over 170 languages. All calls are confidential. The hotline offers crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources. You can call or text 1-800-422-4453.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger, please call 911 for help.
Jennifer Rodriguez is a McClatchy National Real-Time reporter covering the Central and Midwest regions. She joined McClatchy in 2023 after covering local news in Youngstown, Ohio, for over six years. Jennifer has made several achievements in her journalism career, including receiving the Robert R. Hare Award in English, the Emerging Leader Justice and Equality Award, the Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and the Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award.
