Foster mom who cared for 200+ children arrested after investigators discover she may have exchanged a child for a monkey to add to her exotic animal collection
A Missouri woman who opened her home to hundreds of foster children now sits behind bars facing felony charges after police uncovered a disturbing allegation: she may have traded a child for a monkey.
Decades of Fostering Hid Disturbing Secrets
Brenda Deutsch of Winfield, Missouri, had been entrusted with the care of more than 200 vulnerable children over the years.
But behind the façade of a caring foster parent, authorities now believe something sinister was taking place.
Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood described the allegations against Deutsch as "particularly heinous and just disturbing to read."
"Two things that really stood out was the number of children that had been fostered through that home and then the allegations that these types of abuse and emotional neglect had been going on for what seemed to be perhaps a decade," Wood stated.
A Tip Leads to Shocking Discovery
The investigation began on November 21 following an anonymous tip to the Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division.
The tip reported alleged mental and physical abuse of a child in Deutsch's care.
As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered something far more disturbing than they initially expected.
A child who had been in Deutsch's care was missing.
The search for the child led authorities to Texas, where they eventually located the youngster.
A Pattern of Abuse Emerges
The victim told police that Deutsch had subjected her to physical abuse, including being hit with a paddle, shoes, and an open hand.
In one particularly disturbing incident, the child claimed Deutsch forced another person to hold her down during the abuse.
The allegations didn't stop at physical violence.
The child reported that Deutsch would steal her clothes and give them away as a form of punishment.
Investigators believe this pattern of abuse may have been occurring for years, potentially affecting many of the children who passed through Deutsch's home.
The Exotic Animal Connection
As the investigation progressed, authorities discovered Deutsch's apparent fascination with exotic animals.
According to reports, she had amassed a collection of unusual pets over the years.
But it was a witness statement that truly shocked investigators.
The witness claimed they had been asked to transport a child to Texas and return with a monkey in exchange.
"A witness who had come forward with some information regarding the systemic abuse that was going on in the home, had said that they had been asked to bring the child down to Texas and bring the monkey back in return," Prosecutor Wood explained.
The Alleged Trade
According to the probable cause statement obtained by local news station KSDK, Deutsch allegedly arranged for a girl in her care to be taken to Texas to stay with a friend.
What happened next is at the center of the investigation.
The child was allegedly left alone in a house with exotic animals in dirty conditions.
While prosecutors are still investigating the credibility of the monkey trade allegation, they have enough evidence to charge Deutsch with three felony counts: neglect, child abuse, and child endangering.
Deutsch was taken into custody over the weekend with bond set at $250,000 cash. She is scheduled to appear in court this week to face the charges against her.
Prosecutor Wood has encouraged any other potential victims or witnesses to come forward as the investigation continues to unfold, stating that his office is prepared for what "will end up being a lengthy investigation that must cover over a decade's worth of allegations of abuse."
