2 min read

11-year-old gives birth at home, parents charged, grandmother claims ‘no one knew’ she was pregnant

The young girl’s grandmother has claimed ‘no one knew’ she was pregnant and says the 11-year-old told her family who the father is.
Kimberley BraddishBy Kimberley Braddish
Step dad and mother of 11-year-old girl charged.

11-year-old gives birth at home, parents charged, grandmother claims ‘no one knew’ she was pregnant

The young girl’s grandmother has claimed ‘no one knew’ she was pregnant and says the 11-year-old told her family who the father is.
Kimberley BraddishBy Kimberley Braddish

An 11-year-old girl in the United States has given birth at home, leading to charges of child neglect against her parents.

The child’s grandmother, who lives with the family in Oklahoma, told a local news station that no one knew the girl was 36 weeks pregnant, according to court documents reviewed by WDBJ.

The girl and her five younger siblings have since been removed from the home, with her parents held on $100,000 bonds each.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Download today

Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson said the case came to light after the girl was taken to hospital following an unattended birth on August 16.

Court filings show the girl hadn’t seen a doctor in over a year and had no prenatal care. Her parents claim they had no idea she was pregnant.

“The guardians are currently in the Muskogee County Jail,” Ms Hutson said, adding more charges are expected.

“I was horror-stricken to find out it’s an 11-year-old little girl who’s given birth… she had no medical care, and she had no one to be with her.”

“This child is traumatised,” Ms Hutson said. “Not only has somebody gotten her pregnant, but she gave birth at home without medical assistance, and this will be her life for the rest of her life.”

A neighbour reported the home lacked running water for two or three years despite six children and dogs living there, and said she regularly called authorities to check on the children. She said, “This is getting to me. They robbed her of her childhood.”

Read more...
Michelle, the grandmother of 11-year-old girl who gave birth. Credit: KJRH - 2 News Oklahoma

The grandmother, Michelle, disputed the claims, saying no one knew about the pregnancy.

“I just want people to know, we did not know this was happening. None of us,” she said.“They’ve made my daughter and my son-in-law a monster. They are not. They love those children. They love them.”

Regarding the home’s condition, Michelle said, “We have animals, and so sometimes there’s trash on the floor because the dogs get into the trash. It gets cleaned up.”

“Right now, it’s probably a mess because the animals are in there. We try to let them out, but they try to keep it clean.”

Michelle said the baby’s father is a “12-year-old that I used to babysit. She keeps telling everybody that it was him. They got curious. That’s all I know.”

Speaking to KOTV, Ms Hutson noted the girl was home-schooled, which limited reports by schools or doctors about her condition.

“The child had been out of school for a period of time,” she said.

She also expressed doubts about the claim that the family was unaware of the pregnancy, noting the girl gave birth to a normal-sized infant, even though she was “rather petite.”

A paternity test is reportedly underway to find out who the baby’s father is.

Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.

Stream free on

7plus logo

More from

ACCC’s bitter pill for $8.8b Sigma, Chemist Warehouse union

Australia’s competition regulator has raised a raft of red flags over Sigma Healthcare’s proposed $8.8 billion tie-up with Chemist Warehouse that is set to catapult the private retailer onto the ASX.

4 min read

Dutton’s age ban to save kids from ‘industrial scale’ evil

Australian children under 16 would be banned from social media under a Coalition government, according to Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

4 min read

Picking Trell for Origin II a no-brainer

KIERSTEN DUKE: He is Queensland’s worst nightmare so Michael Maguire needs to swallow his pride and choose Latrell Mitchell. Plus the women’s Origin thriller was great even if the Maroons won.

3 min read

Same job, same pay fight for 1700 workers at BHP coal mines

BHP could be hit with orders to lift the pay packets of 1700 labour hire workers at three of its Queensland coal mines as the Mining and Energy Union pursues the miner under new Same Job, Same Pay laws.

2 min read

7NEWS presenters go to war over State of Origin

7NEWS Sydney started the battle but their Brisbane counterparts returned serve with two brutal words.

2 min read

Neighbour recalls woman’s harrowing final moments in Sydney gas explosion

An elderly man has revealed his desperate efforts to rescue a woman trapped after the explosion on Saturday.

2 min read

Teen driver admits to killing SA top cop’s son in schoolies tragedy

A young driver has made a surprise admission following the death of an 18-year-old man.

2 min read

The latest on Suzuki Jimny wait times in Australia

Suzuki Australia has detailed current wait times for its ever-popular Jimny 4x4 range, with up to eight-month delays for some variants.

2 min read

Alleged killer’s chilling account of schoolgirl’s last words

The girl’s body was found dumped four days after she was reported missing.

3 min read

2024 Kia EV6 deals: Finance offer joins crowd of EV deals

Kia is offering sharper financing deals on the two most expensive members of its EV6 electric crossover range.

1 min read

Jury told Greg Lynn cannot be convicted of manslaughter

The instruction means the former Jetstar pilot can only be convicted or acquitted of murder when the jury deliberates.

1 min read

7NEWS Poll: What we don’t like about the Blues

Ahead of State of Origin I, NSW has put out a savage list of what they dislike about Queensland. Now it’s time to return fire.

1 min read