A Missouri foster mother accused of trading a child for a monkey has avoided jail time, with a judge suspending her sentence and ordering probation.
Brenda Deutsch, 70, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Thursday for child endangerment by Lincoln County Judge Thomas Frawley. However, the judge suspended the sentence, requiring Deutsch to complete three years of state-supervised probation. If she adheres to the terms of her probation, she will avoid prison.
Deutsch had accepted a plea deal in June after investigators alleged she sent her eighth-grade-aged foster daughter, Annabella Rodriquez, to live with a family in Texas in exchange for a monkey. Rodriquez, now 17, has since launched a GoFundMe to help regain independence.
Authorities began investigating Deutsch in February 2025 after excessive absences by Rodriquez triggered an investigation by the Winfield School District. During the probe, officials learned the girl had been turned over to Child Protective Services in Texas because her new caretakers were unable to care for her, according to Lincoln County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Wood. Wood stated that the child appeared to be taking care of her caretakers.
Deutsch's biological daughter, Brina Johnson, testified in court about alleged abuse by her mother and confirmed Rodriquez was traded for an animal, stating she had recorded conversations on her phone as evidence.
Johnson also revealed that Deutsch had a history of owning monkeys, stating her mother had at least seven and was not kind to them. "That's what she did; she had at least seven monkeys. That's just her thing. But she wasn't any nicer to those monkeys than she was to a child," Johnson said.
Judge Frawley described Deutsch's actions as "reprehensible" and criticized the state of Missouri for allowing her to retain her foster care license. He revoked her license and apologized to the victims in the courtroom for the system's failures.
Conversely, Bryan Hargis, a supporter of Deutsch, called the case a "travesty of justice" and defended her character, citing her missionary work in Africa. Hargis and others showed up to court to support Deutsch.
Prior to the alleged monkey trade, authorities were investigating Deutsch following an anonymous tip in November 2024 alleging child abuse. Court documents indicated the girl told investigators that Deutsch had physically assaulted her multiple times between September 2022 and January 2025, causing injuries. The girl also claimed Deutsch threatened to kill her and had instructed another family member to help restrain her for punishment.
The former foster child also stated that Deutsch had called the police on her after she attempted to run away, leading to a nine-month stay in a residential psychiatric facility when she was 14. She also alleged that other children had been abused by Deutsch.
Deutsch declined to comment to the press after the hearing. An attorney for Deutsch was not listed in online court records.