A mother and her partner in Oklahoma are facing the possibility of life imprisonment following a harrowing case of alleged child sexual abuse and neglect, which culminated in an 11-year-old girl giving birth at their home.
Shocking Discovery and Initial Charges
Cherie Walker, 33, was first arrested on a charge of child neglect after her young daughter was forced to carry a pregnancy to full term and deliver the baby at their Muskogee home on Saturday, 16 August. Astonishingly, the child had not seen a doctor for an entire year, a period that encompassed her whole pregnancy. Her mother's partner, Dustin Walker, 34, was also arrested and charged with child sexual abuse.
The couple initially told authorities they were unaware of the girl's pregnancy. This claim was met with profound scepticism, given the child's obvious physical state and the lengthy absence of any medical care.
DNA Evidence Alters the Case
The case took a decisive turn when DNA test results became available. The analysis reportedly showed a 99.9% match, identifying Dustin Walker as the biological father of the newborn. This revelation prompted prosecutors to amend the charges on Monday, 25 August.
Dustin Walker now formally faces accusations of sexually abusing the 11-year-old girl between January and August of that year. Cherie Walker's charges were upgraded to enabling child sexual abuse.
Deplorable Living Conditions for Multiple Children
Court documents paint a grim picture of the family home, extending the allegations beyond the abuse of the eldest girl. The couple was also hit with six counts of felony child neglect.
One count relates directly to the 11-year-old, for failing to provide her with proper medical care and supervision, forcing her to deliver at home. The remaining five counts concern the couple's five other children, aged two, four, six, seven, and nine.
Authorities reported that all the children were discovered living in what were described as "deplorable conditions". Court papers state the victims were found without clothing and surrounded by dog excrement. All the children were removed from the property on Tuesday, 19 August.
Severe Legal Consequences Await
Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson did not mince words, calling it "one of the most, if not the most, serious child sexual abuse and neglect cases" she has ever prosecuted.
Bail for both Dustin and Cherie Walker was set at $100,000 each. Hutson emphasised the gravity of the situation, stating that each charge carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison. It is currently unclear whether either defendant has secured legal representation.
