A Missouri woman is facing serious charges after being accused of child endangerment and abuse, with allegations that she sent a foster child to live in unsanitary conditions in Texas in exchange for an exotic animal. Brenda Ruth Deutsch, 70, was arrested on April 6, 2025, in Lincoln County, Missouri, charged with two counts of abuse or neglect of a child and one count of first-degree child endangerment. Currently, she is held at the Lincoln County Jail on a cash-only bond of $250,000.
According to court records, Deutsch has a long history of fostering children, reportedly taking care of over 200 kids in the past 15 to 20 years. Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood stated that the allegations against her date back at least a decade, indicating a troubling pattern of behavior.
The Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division received an anonymous report on November 26, 2024, claiming that a teen girl under Deutsch's care was subjected to physical and mental abuse. Following this report, social workers interviewed the girl at her school on December 4, 2024. During the interview, the girl recounted multiple instances of abuse, including being struck with a paddle, shoes, and wood trim. She described a particularly violent incident where Deutsch allegedly smacked her so hard in the face that it caused her nose to bleed.
Furthermore, the girl revealed that Deutsch had made threats against her life, stating that she would "kill her if she did not shut up." The abuse extended beyond physical violence; the girl reported that she often had to steal food to survive, as Deutsch would punish her by donating her clothes and providing insufficient meals.
On February 6, 2025, a school-security officer began investigating the girl's absence from school after hearing rumors that she had been "traded for an exotic animal" in Texas. This prompted law enforcement to contact the Eastland County Sheriff's Office in North Texas, which located the girl living with a friend of Deutsch's. This friend claimed they were helping out because the girl and Deutsch did not get along.
Witnesses indicated that a monkey had been taken to Deutsch's home in Missouri after she left the girl in Texas, where she had been living in unsanitary conditions. The friend stated that Deutsch had told her she could "keep" the child but that Deutsch would "be keeping the check," referring to the government stipend foster parents receive. The conditions at the Texas home were reportedly poor, with the girl left alone for days while her caretaker worked out of town and tended to exotic animals.
Deutsch's refusal to pay for a plane ticket for the girl to return to Missouri raised further concerns. Although Deutsch claimed she had purchased a ticket, the girl missed the flight because her caretaker could not take her to the airport. On February 13, 2025, the friend dropped the girl off at another residence, and by February 21, the owner of that residence took her to the Eastland County Sheriff's Office, where she was placed in the custody of Texas Child Protective Services.
In a statement shared on social media, Prosecutor Mike Wood emphasized the ongoing nature of the investigation, stating, "This matter is ongoing and we expect more charges to follow as information becomes available. Numerous victims and witnesses have already contacted my office, and I would encourage anyone else with information to continue reaching out to my office, as well as investigators." This indicates that the case may be far from over, with potential for additional charges and revelations about Deutsch's history as a foster parent.
The allegations against Deutsch reveal a disturbing pattern of behavior, raising questions about the oversight and regulation of foster care systems. With reports of abuse spanning several years, advocates for child welfare are calling for stricter regulations and more thorough investigations into the backgrounds of foster parents.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the community and child welfare advocates remain vigilant, hoping for justice for the young victims who have suffered under Deutsch's care. The case highlights the critical need for accountability within the foster care system and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from potential harm.
