Child Carer Pregnant with Client's Child

July 19, 2008 permalink

An Ohio child care worker served her client so well that she is now pregnant with his child. In the news report below, the identity of the missing boy/father is withheld because of the scandalous charges. Ohio prefers to lose a child rather than publish his name. In later news reports, the boy/father has returned to his foster home. Ohio's baby shower for the expectant mom includes six felony indictments.

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The Oxford Press

Prosecutor: Housemom pregnant after sexual relationship with teen abuse victim

The 25-year-old married teacher charged with battery involving 16-year-old Middletown boy in her care.

By Daniel Wells, Staff Writer, Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Carolynn 'Carrie' Hatcher

Carolynn Hatcher was employed as a housemom and teacher at Mid-Western Children's Home in Pleasant Plain when sh allegedly had a two-month affair with a 16-year-old Middletown boy under her care.

LEBANON — A married teacher and housemom at a Christian group home was arrested Monday, July 14, on six counts of sexual battery after she allegedly became pregnant by a 16-year-old Middletown boy under her care.

Carolynn Hatcher, 25, allegedly carried on a two-month affair with the boy at Mid-Western Children's Home in Pleasant Plain, said Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel.

Now, the boy is missing after he ran away from his foster father during a trip to get ice cream Sunday, said Michael Fox, director of Butler County Children Services.

Children Services is working with law enforcement to locate the boy, but the agency is unable to release his name or photograph because of state laws protecting foster children and child sex abuse victims, Fox said.

The agency first learned of the allegations against Hatcher on July 3 and moved the boy into a Fairfield foster home on July 11.

Hatcher, who was indicted last week, worked at the home with her husband for a year before she was fired in June after another child living at the home reported the relationship, Hutzel said.

The boy's parents signed over custody to the county in 2004 after officials learned he had been abused by his father. "Now he's victimized again," Fox said.

The group home, affiliated with the Church of Christ, serves emotionally disturbed children ages 6 to 18.

"We take the safety of the children in our care very seriously," said Administrator Barry Boverie, who called the abuse an "isolated" incident in the home's 41-year history.

Source: The Oxford Press (Ohio)