Authorities Investigate Claims That Foster Mother Traded Girl for Monkey

A 70-year-old Missouri foster mother who cared for over 200 children now faces serious abuse charges amid shocking allegations that she traded a teenage girl for an exotic monkey from Texas.

Quick Takes

Brenda Ruth Deutsch, 70, of Winfield, Missouri, has been charged with neglect, child abuse, and child endangerment.
Authorities are investigating claims she traded her adopted daughter to a woman in Texas in exchange for a monkey.
Witnesses reported seeing a monkey transported back to Missouri after the child was delivered to Texas.
Over 200 hotline calls were made to Missouri’s child protective services about activities at Deutsch’s home.
The case has expanded as numerous other former foster children have come forward with similar abuse allegations.

Foster Mother Charged After Alarming Allegations Surface

Brenda Ruth Deutsch of Lincoln County, Missouri, has been arrested following disturbing allegations that she traded her adopted teenage daughter to a woman in Texas in exchange for an exotic monkey. The 70-year-old woman, who reportedly fostered over 200 children during the past 15 to 20 years, now faces multiple charges including neglect, child abuse, and child endangerment. Authorities became suspicious when a school resource officer alerted officials about the girl’s unexplained absence from school, triggering an investigation that led to the discovery of the alleged trade.

Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood expressed shock at the nature of the allegations. “What was disturbing is that the idea that that was even a possibility, like how we could have a serious conversation that that even was something being considered or joked about is really kind of disheartening,” said Wood.

A Missouri foster mother, who had fostered children for decades, is facing child abuse charges after someone reported that she had traded an adopted daughter to someone in Texas for a monkey. https://t.co/XNQmodUZYw

— fox8news (@fox8news) April 9, 2025

Disturbing Details of Abuse and Neglect

According to court documents, Deutsch allegedly abused the teenager, who is under 17 years old, using a paddle, wooden trim, shoes, and her open hand. The girl reported being physically abused and claimed her complaints were dismissed when she sought help. After being sent to Texas, the teenager was reportedly forced to live in unsanitary conditions without adequate supervision and was left alone to care for exotic animals. When authorities eventually located the girl in Texas, she was removed by child protective services in April and returned to Missouri.

The investigation has uncovered that Deutsch and the Texas woman knew each other through their shared interest in exotic animals. When first approached by authorities, the Texas resident allegedly lied about the child’s whereabouts. The girl told investigators she experienced unsanitary living conditions and inadequate supervision but reported no forced labor or assault during her time in Texas. Meanwhile, authorities discovered several monkeys at Deutsch’s Missouri home during their investigation.

Systemic Failures and Expanding Investigation

Records show that over 200 hotline calls were made to Missouri’s child protective services regarding activities at Deutsch’s home. The Missouri Department of Social Services has declined to provide specific details, citing confidentiality laws. A teenage boy who was in Deutsch’s care at the time of her arrest has been taken into protective custody as the investigation continues.

Authorities are now reviewing a decade’s worth of abuse allegations as more victims come forward. Prosecutor Wood has encouraged others with information to contact his office and investigators. He has also raised questions about potential systemic failures, stating, “If there was some type of failure in the system, where was it and how can we fix it.” The case has attracted nationwide attention and raised serious concerns about oversight of foster care placements and the protection of vulnerable children in the system.