© 2024 Public Radio Tulsa
800 South Tucker Drive
Tulsa, OK 74104
(918) 631-2577

A listener-supported service of The University of Tulsa
classical 88.7 | public radio 89.5
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lawsuit Alleges Couple was Warned of Pending State Visits

File photo

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A federal lawsuit alleges a Delaware County couple who kept foster children and adopted others was alerted by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services of pending visits for checks on the children's welfare.

The couple already faces dozens of charges of child abuse, endangerment, neglect and enabling child abuse for alleged beatings, keeping a child in a dog cage, and denying food and medical care to nine children. Both have both pleaded not guilty.

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday on behalf of the nine children who were either adopted by the couple or placed in their care by DHS. The suit alleges the couple was told about upcoming inspections so they could clean the home and rehearse interviews with the children.

DHS spokeswoman Sheree Powell declined to comment.