Current:Home > MyMother charged after reportedly giving missing child to man during drug exchange -AssetScope
Mother charged after reportedly giving missing child to man during drug exchange
View
Date:2025-04-22 11:55:31
Police in Oklahoma last week filed criminal charges against a woman who reportedly gave her 2-year-old daughter to a man she bought drugs from nearly three years ago.
The child, who would be age 5 today, has not been seen since, law enforcement said.
Ashley Rowland, 39, is charged with child abandonment in connection with the 2022 disappearance of her toddler, according to court papers filed in Oklahoma County criminal court.
Rowland, who lives in Moore, was arrested after a probable cause affidavit was filed in the case on Nov. 1, a court clerk confirmed to USA TODAY on Wednesday.
Moore is a city in Cleveland County, part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, just south of the county where she was charged in the case.
What happened to Ashley Rowland's 2-year-old daughter?
According to an affidavit obtained by local media outlets including KOCO, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services in April 2023 was asked to take custody of the child, but could not locate her.
When DHS officials contacted Rowland, they said she told them "her daughter was with her father in Georgia,” per the affidavit obtained by KFOR.
But not long after, the paperwork continues, Rowland told police she gave her daughter to a man named “Carlos” when she was buying drugs from him.
During an interview with detectives, the affidavit continues, Rowland told officers it was possible Carlos was the father of her daughter, that she was using drugs when she gave her daughter away, and did not know where the girl was.
An Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesperson told USA TODAY the Moore Police Department is heading the investigation.
As of Wednesday, Oklahoma Department of Public Safety spokesperson Sarah Stewart told USA TODAY no Amber Alert had been issued for the missing girl.
The agency also released the following statement:
"Situations like those described in this affidavit are heartbreaking and unimaginable. Like the rest of the community, Oklahoma Human Services reels in concern for this child’s safety. While we are unable to discuss child welfare cases due to state and federal confidentiality statutes, the agency is grateful to our law enforcement partners for their continued work to find her and as they seek justice in her disappearance. We remain committed to supporting their efforts, however needed."
'I'm ready':Travis James Mullis executed in Texas for murder of his 3-month-old son Alijah
Ashely Rowland, charged with child abandonment, not listed in jail
Neither the Moore or Oklahoma county jails had Rowland listed as an inmate online Wednesday.
It was not immediately known if the defendant had obtained an attorney in the case.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
veryGood! (37)
Related
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- How the fentanyl crisis has impacted New Hampshire voters
- Daniel Will: Historical Lessons on the Bubble of the U.S. Stock Market
- Algeria gears up for election year with aging president, opposition that is yet to offer challenger
- North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
- Five players from 2018 Canada world junior team take leave of absence from their clubs
- Everything festival-goers should know about Bourbon & Beyond 2024 from lineup to ticket price
- Tropical low off northeast Australia reaches cyclone strength
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Inflation slows in New Zealand to its lowest rate since 2021
Ranking
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- Horoscopes Today, January 24, 2024
- Greece faces growing opposition from the Orthodox Church over plans to legalize same-sex marriage
- Justice Department urges Supreme Court to maintain access to abortion pill, warning of harms to women
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Mega Millions winning numbers for January 23 drawing; jackpot reaches $262 million
- Georgia senators move to ban expansion of ranked-choice voting method in the state
- The West Bank economy has been hammered by war
Recommendation
Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
Oreo's new blue-and-pink Space Dunk cookies have popping candies inside
Five players from 2018 Canada world junior team take leave of absence from their clubs
Ohio bans gender-affirming care and restricts transgender athletes despite GOP governor’s veto
Moving abroad can be expensive: These 5 countries will 'pay' you to move there
Disney asks for delay in DeSantis appointees’ lawsuit, as worker describes a distracted district
Tropical low off northeast Australia reaches cyclone strength
Customers eligible for Chick-fil-A's $4.4 million lawsuit settlement are almost out of time