An 11-year-old girl in Oklahoma was suffering from severe bleeding when emergency responders arrived at her home in August 2025, after she gave birth to her stepfather’s baby, according to authorities.
The girl’s mother, Cherie Walker, was sentenced to seven life terms last week for failing to protect her daughter from sexual abuse by her husband, Dustin Walker, according to court records reviewed by PEOPLE.
The investigation began after the child was taken to a hospital following a birth at 36 weeks of pregnancy. FOX 23 previously reported the incident, citing court documents.
According to Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson, an ambulance transported the girl to the hospital after she began hemorrhaging. Emergency personnel also had to cut the baby’s umbilical cord, KTUL reported.
As investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the birth, they discovered that the family home had no running water at the time.
Police also learned that the girl had not visited a doctor for approximately a year before giving birth, according to ABC News 4.
Authorities said she had received no prenatal medical care during her pregnancy. The girl and the other children living in the household had also been homeschooled.
The Walkers reportedly claimed that neither of them knew the girl was pregnant.
Cherie Walker was convicted of one felony count of enabling child sexual abuse and six counts of child neglect, according to previous reports from ABC News 4 and KTUL.
Her husband, Dustin Walker, is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty to sexually abusing a child under the age of 12. He also pleaded guilty to six counts of child neglect, according to News On 6 and ABC News 4.
The case highlights the importance of recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse, particularly when a child may be living in an unsafe environment.
If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit Childhelp.org. Calls are free and confidential. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and offers support in more than 170 languages.
