Oklahoma Mom Gets 7 Life Terms in Child Neglect Case
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An 11-year-old girl gave birth at home in Oklahoma, with no doctor, no prenatal care, and no adult stepping in to protect her. Now her mother will spend the rest of her life behind bars.
Cherie Walker, 34, of Muskogee County, was sentenced Friday, Oct. 30, to seven consecutive life sentences, according to TrueCrimeNews. District Judge Timothy King followed the jury’s recommendation after jurors convicted her in July of enabling child sexual abuse and six counts of child neglect.
The case broke open on Aug. 16, 2025, when emergency crews rushed to the family’s Muskogee home. Hospital staff alerted authorities, and DNA testing identified the baby’s father: the girl’s stepfather, Walker’s husband, Dustin Walker.
Investigators found five other children living in what law enforcement called deplorable conditions, and prosecutors said the house had no running water. The girl hadn’t seen a doctor in more than a year and had been out of school, which cut her off from anyone who might have noticed.
Both Walkers claimed they never knew the girl was pregnant. Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson didn’t buy it, describing the girl as “rather petite” and the baby as full-sized. Dustin Walker pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June to life in prison.
The girl’s grandmother, Michelle Justus, is charged with six counts of child neglect. Prosecutors say she knew about the abuse, which she denies.
If you suspect a child is being abused, call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453. Help is available 24/7.
