A Missouri foster parent has pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child after authorities say she attempted to trade her young charge for a monkey, exchanging the girl with someone in Texas who owned exotic animals.
Background
Brenda Deutsch, 70, had been licensed as a foster parent for decades, serving as a court-appointed guardian to more than 200 children throughout her career. The investigation into Deutsch began in November 2024 when the Missouri Department of Social Services received an anonymous tip alleging abuse of a child in her care, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office.
When investigators followed up on the report, they learned the victim had been located in Texas after being allegedly given away by Deutsch. Child welfare agents interviewed the girl in December 2024, and she told them the abuse had begun three years prior, deputies said.
The alleged mistreatment spanned September 2022 through January 2025. According to law enforcement, while in Deutsch's care, the child was hit in the face, causing injuries and bleeding. The girl also reported being struck with a paddle, smacked, and subjected to other forms of abuse. She additionally told investigators she witnessed other children being mistreated.
In February 2025, the Winfield School District reported that the child had excessive absences. A school resource officer was informed about the missing classes as district officials began their own investigation. During this inquiry, authorities learned the girl had been handed off to someone in Texas in exchange for a monkey.
A witness at the school also told investigators that Deutsch and the child were simply "not getting along."
The Investigation
Lincoln County authorities contacted Texas law enforcement to locate and interview the victim. Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood explained that during the months she was in Texas, the girl was left alone for extended periods.
"One of those was a 10 day period where that particular person in Texas had left and gone to the state of New Mexico and left the child," Wood said.
According to law enforcement, both Deutsch and her friend owned exotic animals. The friend was allegedly asked to take the girl in exchange for one of those animals — specifically, the monkey. When the friend departed for New Mexico to tend to their menagerie, the girl was shuttled to a secondary residence occupied by the friend's adult children.
"Both of those people are disabled and not able to take care of the child. From what we can tell the child was taking care of them," Wood continued.
As the visit to New Mexico extended longer than expected, the girl was eventually turned over to Child Protective Services in Texas.
The case drew particular scrutiny because records indicate more than 200 calls had been made to a child abuse hotline reporting Deutsch over the years — yet no prior police reports or prosecution requests had ever been filed against her.
"Disappointed to learn that this particular home, despite the notoriety that it had gained, was not in our system," Wood said. "We didn't have any police reports. We didn't have any requests for prosecution. We didn't have anything."
The Charges
Deutsch was originally charged in April 2025 with felony counts of neglect, child abuse and child endangerment. She was later indicted by a grand jury on two counts of abuse or neglect of a child and one count of endangering the welfare of a child.
On Monday, Deutsch pleaded guilty to a single count of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree under the terms of a plea agreement with prosecutors. The other two charges were dropped as part of the deal.
Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood had previously described the alleged conduct during charging: "It wasn't isolated. It was a culture of abuse and neglect."
Key Takeaways
- Brenda Deutsch, 70, served as a foster parent for decades and had custody of more than 200 children
- She allegedly tried to exchange her foster daughter with someone in Texas in return for a monkey
- The child reported being physically abused over approximately three years while in Deutsch's care
- More than 200 hotline calls had been made reporting Deutsch, yet no prior criminal cases were filed against her
- Under the plea deal, Deutsch admitted to one count of endangering the welfare of a child; she faces up to seven years in prison
What's Next
Deutsch is scheduled to appear for a case review on July 21. She remains free on bond pending sentencing. The Lincoln County Prosecutor's Office has not indicated whether additional individuals will face charges related to the circumstances in Texas.