Oklahoma Stepfather Arrested After DNA Proves He Fathered Stepdaughter’s Child

Dustin Walker is accused of sexually abusing his step-daughter

A local stepfather has been taken into custody after a DNA test confirmed with 99.9 percent certainty that he is the biological father of his stepdaughter’s newborn child. Dustin Walker, 34, now faces charges of sexual abuse after the minor girl gave birth at the family residence on August 16.

Walker and the child’s mother, Cherie Walker, 33, were initially arrested last week on a single count of felony child neglect. The parents had claimed they were unaware of the girl’s pregnancy, stating she had not been seen by a doctor in over a year.

Their charges were elevated on Monday following the results of the paternity test. The Muskogee County District Attorney’s Office confirmed that Dustin Walker has been charged with sexually abusing the minor. Cherie Walker was charged with enabling child sexual abuse.

Cherie Walker, 33, has been charged with enabling sexual abuse

In a statement, Muskogee County Assistant District Attorney Janet Hutson called it one of the most severe child sexual abuse and neglect cases she has ever prosecuted. “This child is traumatised. She's been through a horrific ordeal. I mean, 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,” Hutson said. She added that each charge against the defendants is punishable by up to life in prison.

Court documents reveal the couple was also charged with six additional counts of felony child neglect. These charges cite a failure to provide proper medical care and supervision during the girl’s labor. Further counts relate to the treatment of their five other children, ages two, four, six, and nine, who were discovered to be living in deplorable conditions.

The couple's home in Muskogee, Oklahoma

The children were removed from the home on Tuesday after being found with no clothes on and living in dog feces, according to court records. A neighbor, Cheryl Adkins, stated the family had no running water for the past two to three years. Regarding the pregnancy, Adkins said, “This is getting to me. They robbed her of her childhood.”

The children’s grandmother, identified only as Michelle A., attributed the home’s condition to the number of animals living there and stated the couple “try to keep it clean.” When questioned about the parents' treatment of the children, she insisted they “love those children” and claimed the situation had made her daughter and son-in-law out to be “monsters.”

The couple is scheduled to appear in court on September 3.

Grandmother Michelle A claims the couple have unfairly been labelled as 'monsters'