In Lincoln County, Missouri, a disturbing child abuse case is drawing national attention as 70-year-old foster mother Brenda Ruth Deutsch faces serious charges, including two counts of child abuse or neglect and one count of child endangerment. Prosecutors allege that Deutsch physically abused a teenage girl in her care and ultimately traded the child for a pet monkey in Texas.
The investigation began in November 2024 when the Missouri Department of Social Services received a report of potential abuse at Deutsch’s residence. The teenage girl under Deutsch’s guardianship told authorities she was routinely beaten with a paddle, wooden trim, and shoes. In one instance, someone reportedly held her down while Deutsch assaulted her. The victim also claimed Deutsch would take her clothing away as punishment and had her committed to psychiatric institutions multiple times without cause.
In February 2025, concerns deepened when the girl failed to return to school after an extended absence. Further investigation revealed that Deutsch had sent the teen to stay with a friend in Texas. While Deutsch claimed the move was due to personal disagreements, a witness reported that Deutsch had asked them to transport the girl to Texas and bring back a monkey in return. The teen was found living in unsuitable conditions, surrounded by exotic animals and without appropriate adult supervision.
Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood confirmed that Deutsch had fostered over 200 children during her time in the state system. He expressed grave concern over the allegations and emphasized that further charges may be filed pending additional investigations into her history as a foster parent. Authorities are now working with social services and legal agencies to determine whether other children may have suffered similar treatment.
Deutsch is currently being held on a $250,000 bond. The teenage girl has been placed under the care of Texas Child Protective Services. The case has sparked renewed scrutiny of foster care oversight in Missouri and raised questions about the monitoring of foster households with a history of taking in large numbers of children.
This shocking case underscores the urgent need for more stringent background checks, better oversight, and stronger accountability measures in the foster care system to ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable children.
Source Links:
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/lincoln-county-foster-mother-accused-beating-abandoning-teen/63-757b778b-ebc1-4080-b51a-114beeea6309
https://www.iheart.com/content/2025-04-09-foster-mom-allegedly-traded-a-child-for-an-exotic-monkey
https://atlantablackstar.com/2025/04/09/missouri-police-investigating-if-70-year-old-woman-known-for-fostering-more-than-200-children-over-the-years-tried-to-trade-one-for-an-exotic-animal
https://notthebee.com/article/missouri-woman-arrested-for-trading-one-of-her-foster-kids-for-a-monkey
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIN-CwKMotP
https://youtu.be/HUKXrwVbzDM
