A Missouri foster mother faced allegations of trading a teenage girl for an exotic animal but was spared prison time. Brenda Deutsch, aged 70, received a sentence of seven years for child endangerment. However, a Lincoln County judge suspended the sentence, placing her on three years of probation. This decision allows her to stay free under specific conditions, as reported by FOX2 St. Louis.
Judge Thomas Frawley expressed criticism towards the Missouri foster care system for allowing Deutsch to retain her foster care license, which he revoked during court proceedings. Frawley apologized to the victims present, acknowledging the shortcomings of the system.
Brina Johnson, Deutsch’s biological daughter, provided testimony on the alleged abuse. Johnson expressed her dissatisfaction with the outcome, noting it wasn’t what she had hoped for. She mentioned a teenager in the courtroom as the foster child involved in the troubling allegations.
“I have the whole conversation on my phone, which I turned over to the detectives,” said Johnson.
Johnson indicated that Deutsch had a collection of monkeys and implied they were treated poorly, similar to how she allegedly treated foster children.
The allegations against Deutsch surfaced when authorities discovered that she had sent a foster child, now 17, to Texas without proper knowledge of the household, as she admitted in court. The investigation began when Deutsch requested permission to take the child to Texas. An anonymous caller later reported alleged abuse to the Missouri Department of Social Services Children’s Division.
The investigation revealed claims that the child was traded for an exotic animal and left in an unsanitary environment in Texas. A witness described the home as filled with exotic animals, prompting Texas child protective services to intervene.
The teenager recounted experiences of abuse under Deutsch’s care, including being struck with objects like a paddle and shoes. Court documents detail an instance where Deutsch allegedly threatened the child, removing her clothing and threatening harm.
Outside the courthouse, Deutsch declined comments, shielding her face and leaving promptly. Reports indicate Deutsch has fostered over 200 children throughout her life.
Despite disappointment, Johnson noted the judge’s acknowledgment of system failures provided some validation. She emphasized that the events should not have transpired, highlighting systemic failings.
Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita contributed additional reporting.