How Could You? Hall of Shame-Shannon Becktold UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Tulsa, Oklahoma, foster mother Shannon Becktold, 30, was arrested on Thursday, August 23, 2012 for February 7, 2012 incidents of child abuse on her 3-year-old and 6-year-old foster daughters. She was released on $50,000 bond four hours later.

A warrant had been issued on May 22, 2012 for 2 felony counts of child abuse by injury. Her arraignment is on August 31, 2012.

News on 6 says “According to court documents filed in June, a 6-year-old girl went to her school nurse on Feb. 8 and complained of leg pain. The nurse observed bruising on her upper thigh, which the child said was from a spanking the day before.

The child told the nurse she was spanked with a belt for hiding food under her bed, a probable cause affidavit says.

Tulsa police and the Department of Human Services also responded to the school that day to observe the bruising and welts. Upon learning there were two other children – ages 3 and 12 – in the home, DHS took all three into immediate custody, the documents say.

The children were examined by a doctor at the Justice Center the following day, and the doctor told investigators bruises on the 3- and 6-year-old children “were consistent with being struck with a flexible, straight object such as a belt or cord,” and they were not normal childhood injuries, but those of excessive punishment or abuse, the affidavit says.”

Tulsa World adds, “The girl told the DHS worker that Becktold had spanked her because her sister put a banana peel under a bed and she threw it away without telling on her, according to the document.” “A doctor found that both girls had bruises consistent with excessive punishment, according to the report. ” The 12-year-old that was removed from the home is a boy.

Sources:

Tulsa Foster Mother Charged With Felony Child Abuse

[News on 6 8/24/12 by Brandi Ball]

Foster mother arrested on abuse charges tied to February spankings

[Tulsa World 8/24/12 by Zach Stoycoff]

Oklahoma public case record search

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: We could find no new media stories. A search of public Oklahoma court records reveals that on November 19, 2012 Shannon pled nolo contendre (no contest)  to 2 counts of CHILD ABUSE BY INJURY, 21 O.S. 843.5 (A), OFFENSE DATE 2/7/12.

For each count “THE COURT WITHHOLDS A FINDING OF GUILT. SENTENCING DEFERRED TO 11/13/15 AT 9:00 AM IN ROOM 501. DEFENDANT TO BE SUPERVISED FOR THE FIRST TWO (2) YEARS BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE. DEFENDANT ASSESSED A $600.00 COURT FUND, $150.00 VICTIM’S COMPENSATION, PLUS COSTS. DEFENDANT TO COMPLETE 80 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE TULSA COUNTY WORK PROGRAM WITHIN 180 DAYS.”