Foster mom accused of trading teen girl for monkey pleads guilty to child endangerment

WINFIELD, Mo. (TCN) -- A 70-year-old woman accused of trading a foster child for a monkey has pleaded guilty to one count of child endangerment.

KY3 reports that in November 2024, child services got an anonymous tip that Brenda Deutsch was abusing a child. The teen was interviewed, and she alleged that the abuse had begun about three years earlier and involved being smacked and hit with a paddle. The victim also alleged that she witnessed the abuse of others. In February 2025, the school district reported the victim had not been to school and a witness said it was because Deutsch had traded her for an exotic animal. 

Investigators learned Deutsch had been a longtime foster parent, fostering approximately 200 children. During that time, more than 200 calls were made reporting Deutsch to a child abuse hotline, according to KY3.

KSDK reported in April 2025 that Deutsch collected exotic animals. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that investigators said a witness was asked to drop the girl off with another exotic animal collector in Texas and come home with a monkey. 

According to KY3, Deutsch was charged in April 2025 in connection with the missing child and indicted by a grand jury on two counts of child neglect or abuse and one count of endangering the welfare of a child. She pleaded guilty June 15 to the endangerment charge; the other charges were dropped.  

KTVI reports that Deutsch’s conviction carries a maximum of seven years in prison or up to one year in jail, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.

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