A foster mother to hundreds—until one child’s story exposed a dark truth.
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Disclaimer: This article discusses allegations of child abuse and neglect within the foster care system. The details are based on publicly available court documents and official statements, and all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The content may be distressing to some readers. If you or someone you know is experiencing or has experienced abuse, resources are available to help. Please contact your local authorities or a support organization in your area.
In a tale that reads more like a grim fable than reality, a Missouri woman lauded for her extensive history of fostering children now stands accused of a heinous act of neglect.
Brenda Ruth Deutsch, 70, who reportedly opened her home to over 200 foster children across two decades, faces serious allegations of abuse, neglect, and endangering the welfare of a child.
A 70-year-old woman from Missouri is facing criminal charges after allegedly abusing a minor and leaving her in the care of an exotic animal collector in Texas.
Brenda Ruth Deutsch was taken into custody on April 7 and is now charged with two counts of child abuse or neglect and one count of child endangerment, according to court records from Missouri.
The charges involve a female minor and are said to have taken place in Lincoln County between September 1, 2022, and January 1, 2025, according to the criminal complaint.
A probable cause affidavit reviewed by USA TODAY states that the investigation began after the Missouri Department of Social Services received an anonymous report on November 26, 2024. The tip alleged that a child had been subjected to both physical and emotional abuse.
Over the past 15 to 20 years, Brenda Ruth Deutsch has reportedly fostered more than 200 children, according to Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood in comments to NBC News and KSDK.
Wood and court documents indicate that Deutsch is also under investigation for allegedly abandoning the same girl she’s accused of abusing, leaving her in the custody of another exotic animal enthusiast in Texas—and later refusing to retrieve her.
Court records from Missouri show that Deutsch’s bond has been set at $250,000. As of Saturday, no defense attorney was listed on her behalf.
According to a probable cause statement, a middle school-aged girl told authorities during a mobile forensic interview on Dec. 4, 2024, that Deutsch "hit her with a lot of different things." She identified some of those items as a paddle, pieces of trim, and shoes, the court filing notes.
Also read: Transform your grandchildren's lives instantly: 6 must-use phrases recommended by a child psychologist
The girl also claimed that Deutsch once "smacked" her nose with such force that it started bleeding, according to the same document. She said she tried to tell several people about the abuse, but no one believed her.
In one particularly disturbing account, the girl alleged that a family member of Deutsch’s restrained her while Deutsch struck her bare bottom with a paddle.
She said the hitting only stopped when she stopped reacting and remained silent, so she chose to stay still so the abuse would end, the court papers state.
The girl’s absence from school in Missouri triggered an investigation on Feb. 6, 2025. According to the document, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office was informed that she had been taken to stay with the exotic animal collector in Texas.
According to the probable cause document, when an investigator contacted the Eastland County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, he was able to speak with the girl, who stated she was currently enrolled in school there.
Authorities also interviewed the woman housing the girl, who said she was a friend of Deutsch and was “helping her out” because Deutsch and the child "were not getting along," the document says.
The woman explained she didn’t want to keep the child but felt she had no choice because Deutsch refused to cover the cost of a plane ticket to bring the girl back, the filing states.
The girl told Eastland deputies that the woman hadn’t abused her, but would frequently leave her alone at the Texas home for several days to tend to her exotic animals while away for work, the court document notes.
During a second forensic interview, the girl said Deutsch would take her clothes and belongings and place them in donation boxes for Goodwill, resulting in her having very few items to wear, the court document states.
She also reported not being adequately fed, explaining that the sandwiches she received daily weren’t enough, so she resorted to stealing food, the document says.
Source: KMOV St. Louis / Youtube.
The girl added that she didn’t feel safe living at Deutsch’s home and "ran away a lot" but was always made to return.
When Deutsch told the Texas woman she could keep the girl, the child told authorities the foster mother said she’d “be keeping the check,” according to the probable cause filing.
Read next: This grandma's simple advice saved a life—now experts say every family should know it
Have you or someone you know had any experience with the child welfare system? Whether as a caregiver, a child, or just someone who cares about kids in your community—what do you think should be done to better protect and support children in foster care? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
In a tale that reads more like a grim fable than reality, a Missouri woman lauded for her extensive history of fostering children now stands accused of a heinous act of neglect.
Brenda Ruth Deutsch, 70, who reportedly opened her home to over 200 foster children across two decades, faces serious allegations of abuse, neglect, and endangering the welfare of a child.
A 70-year-old woman from Missouri is facing criminal charges after allegedly abusing a minor and leaving her in the care of an exotic animal collector in Texas.
Brenda Ruth Deutsch was taken into custody on April 7 and is now charged with two counts of child abuse or neglect and one count of child endangerment, according to court records from Missouri.
The charges involve a female minor and are said to have taken place in Lincoln County between September 1, 2022, and January 1, 2025, according to the criminal complaint.
A probable cause affidavit reviewed by USA TODAY states that the investigation began after the Missouri Department of Social Services received an anonymous report on November 26, 2024. The tip alleged that a child had been subjected to both physical and emotional abuse.
Brenda Ruth Deutsch, a Missouri woman, is facing charges for allegedly abusing and neglecting a girl under the age of 18. Image source: KMOV St. Louis / Youtube.
Over the past 15 to 20 years, Brenda Ruth Deutsch has reportedly fostered more than 200 children, according to Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood in comments to NBC News and KSDK.
Wood and court documents indicate that Deutsch is also under investigation for allegedly abandoning the same girl she’s accused of abusing, leaving her in the custody of another exotic animal enthusiast in Texas—and later refusing to retrieve her.
Court records from Missouri show that Deutsch’s bond has been set at $250,000. As of Saturday, no defense attorney was listed on her behalf.
According to a probable cause statement, a middle school-aged girl told authorities during a mobile forensic interview on Dec. 4, 2024, that Deutsch "hit her with a lot of different things." She identified some of those items as a paddle, pieces of trim, and shoes, the court filing notes.
Also read: Transform your grandchildren's lives instantly: 6 must-use phrases recommended by a child psychologist
The girl also claimed that Deutsch once "smacked" her nose with such force that it started bleeding, according to the same document. She said she tried to tell several people about the abuse, but no one believed her.
In one particularly disturbing account, the girl alleged that a family member of Deutsch’s restrained her while Deutsch struck her bare bottom with a paddle.
She said the hitting only stopped when she stopped reacting and remained silent, so she chose to stay still so the abuse would end, the court papers state.
The girl’s absence from school in Missouri triggered an investigation on Feb. 6, 2025. According to the document, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office was informed that she had been taken to stay with the exotic animal collector in Texas.
Deutsch, who reportedly fostered over 200 children, is accused of paddling the girl and abandoning her with an exotic animal collector in Texas. Image source: KMOV St. Louis / Youtube.
According to the probable cause document, when an investigator contacted the Eastland County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, he was able to speak with the girl, who stated she was currently enrolled in school there.
Authorities also interviewed the woman housing the girl, who said she was a friend of Deutsch and was “helping her out” because Deutsch and the child "were not getting along," the document says.
The woman explained she didn’t want to keep the child but felt she had no choice because Deutsch refused to cover the cost of a plane ticket to bring the girl back, the filing states.
The girl told Eastland deputies that the woman hadn’t abused her, but would frequently leave her alone at the Texas home for several days to tend to her exotic animals while away for work, the court document notes.
During a second forensic interview, the girl said Deutsch would take her clothes and belongings and place them in donation boxes for Goodwill, resulting in her having very few items to wear, the court document states.
She also reported not being adequately fed, explaining that the sandwiches she received daily weren’t enough, so she resorted to stealing food, the document says.
Source: KMOV St. Louis / Youtube.
The girl added that she didn’t feel safe living at Deutsch’s home and "ran away a lot" but was always made to return.
When Deutsch told the Texas woman she could keep the girl, the child told authorities the foster mother said she’d “be keeping the check,” according to the probable cause filing.
Read next: This grandma's simple advice saved a life—now experts say every family should know it
Have you or someone you know had any experience with the child welfare system? Whether as a caregiver, a child, or just someone who cares about kids in your community—what do you think should be done to better protect and support children in foster care? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
