Oklahoma Couple Suspected of Using Teen as Surrogate
An Oklahoma mother and her boyfriend are under investigation for allegedly using a 14-year-old girl as a surrogate for their twins. Disturbingly, the girl reportedly told police that she “desperately wanted to have more siblings,” raising serious concerns about her situation.
Nathan Pothier and Erica Palmer, both 36, were apprehended in Nevada after evading law enforcement. Police had been looking for them on charges of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. This information was brought to light by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
The couple faced outstanding warrants since December when Child Protective Services received a report regarding a pregnant teenage girl. It appears the lead came from an individual close to the situation. During a troubling interview with officials in Oklahoma City, Palmer indicated her daughter’s desire for more siblings, as reported by local media.
Palmer mentioned her own wish to have a child with her current partner, despite being unable to conceive due to her fallopian tubes being tied.
While she denied that Pothier was responsible for her daughter’s pregnancy, police are now seeking a DNA test to confirm paternity. The couple, however, left Oklahoma before these tests could be administered.
Authorities located them hiding in the Reno/Sparks area, which is over a thousand miles from Oklahoma City. Their capture came after a coordinated effort involving the U.S. Marshals Nevada Violent Offender Task Force.
Pothier now faces charges of child sexual assault, and Palmer is charged with condoning this abuse. She is also facing additional charges related to abandoning a child under 15.
The pair was taken to the Washoe County Detention Center in Nevada and are set to be extradited back to Oklahoma County for prosecution. The girl, who is now 15 and due to give birth in late February, has been placed in foster care since the situation came to light.
