A 70-year-old Missouri foster mother who cared for hundreds of children throughout her career is now facing child abuse charges after shocking allegations that she traded a teenage girl for a monkey in Texas. Authorities in Texas are looking into claims she traded her adopted teenage daughter for a monkey. While under Deutsch’s care, the teen claimed to have been beaten with wooden trim, shoes, and a paddle. Over a 15-year period, a child abuse hotline received approximately 250 calls about Deutsch’s home.
Allegations of Child Trading and Abuse
The disturbing case came to light after a school resource officer noticed a teenage girl’s absence from class and notified authorities. Investigators in Lincoln County, Missouri, discovered the teen had allegedly been sent to Texas as part of a deal between Deutsch and a woman who owned exotic pets. The girl was later discovered living in unsanitary conditions with inadequate supervision before being placed in protective custody and returned to Missouri.
The investigation revealed a pattern of alleged physical abuse before the trading incident. According to court documents, the teenager reported being beaten with wooden trim, shoes, and a paddle. Deutsch, who has been a foster or adoptive parent to approximately 200 children over more than a decade, is now jailed on a $250,000 bond, with her next court appearance scheduled for next Tuesday.
A Missouri woman accused of trading her foster child for an exotic monkey has been arrested.
Brenda Ruth Deutsch, 70, of Lincoln County, was arrested on three felony counts of neglect, child abuse and child endangering stemming from initial allegations of a missing child who was… pic.twitter.com/n28naRVaMV
— 𓂀 𝕋𝔼𝔸ℍ 𓂀 (@TeahCartel) April 9, 2025
Monkey Trade Claims Are Under Investigation
Lincoln County Prosecutor Mike Wood is investigating whether the alleged trade was a serious transaction or merely discussed as a joke. Witnesses have come forward claiming they were specifically asked to transport the girl to Texas and return with a monkey. The suspect and the Texas woman reportedly knew each other through their shared interest in exotic animals, with the Texas woman claiming she was merely helping by taking the girl in temporarily.
“On its face, it just seems like there was a systemic failure somewhere, and we’re looking into it to see if that is the case, how it can be addressed, and to the extent that there’s any criminal behavior associated with it, we will look into that as well.” – Mike Wood
Authorities are treating the investigation with appropriate seriousness despite the unusual nature of the allegations. The prosecutor’s office has indicated they expect additional charges to be filed as they continue examining allegations that span a decade. The teen is currently housed in a group home while the investigation proceeds.
A Missouri foster mother, who had fostered children for decades, is facing child abuse charges after someone reported that she had traded an adopted daughter to someone in Texas for a monkey. https://t.co/d7xJPLadLJ
— JET/FOX/YourErie.com (@JET24FOX66) April 10, 2025
Potential System Failures Identified
Perhaps most disturbing in this case is the revelation that there were approximately 250 calls to child abuse hotline about Deutsch’s home over the past 15 years, yet no criminal reports were filed. This history of complaints raises serious questions about the effectiveness of child welfare oversight and potential systemic failures in protecting vulnerable children placed in foster care.
The Missouri Department of Social Services has declined to provide specific information about the case, citing confidentiality laws. A spokesperson for the department noted that “information related to specific child abuse and neglect investigations is closed and confidential under Missouri law, except under very limited circumstances.” This has complicated attempts to understand how a foster parent with so many hotline calls could continue to accept children into her care.