According to court documents, the Missouri Department of Social Services received an anonymous report in November 2024 alleging that a child was being abused by her foster mother, Brenda Deutsch, in Troy, Missouri.
Police interviewed the victim in December 2024, during which she reportedly recounted three years of abuse. She alleged that Deutsch struck her with a paddle, slapped her, and physically abused other members of the household.
Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood said the child endured “emotional abuse, physical abuse, and also a level of neglect.”
“We had some information that children were hoarding food, which is always something you look for,” Wood said.
He further alleged that Deutsch exercised control over the children through emotional abuse, including throwing away their clothes, having them undergo unnecessary psychological evaluations, and sending them to residential treatment facilities as a form of punishment.
In February 2025, the victim’s school reported excessive absences, prompting an investigation by a school resource officer.
The investigation revealed that the child was in Texas rather than Missouri, where she had been living with her foster mother.
Authorities later contacted the individual caring for the child in Texas and determined that the person was a friend of Deutsch.
According to investigators, a witness claimed that both Deutsch and her Texas friend owned exotic animals and alleged that Deutsch had traded the foster child in exchange for a monkey.
Police also said the Texas caregiver frequently left the child alone for days while travelling to care for the animals, including a 10-day trip to New Mexico.
During those absences, the child was reportedly sent to stay with another household.
“She was at a secondary home, which belonged to the adult children of witness one,” Wood said.
“Both of those people are disabled and not able to take care of the child. From what we can tell, the child was actually taking care of them.”
Deutsch has been charged with two counts of child abuse or neglect and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. The allegations remain before the court.
