GUILTY OK - Teagan, 4, and Ryan Dennis, 3, die in hot truck, Tulsa, 13 June 2020 *dad arrested*

[alexwood]

State Charges Dropped Against Okla. Dad Whose 2 Kids Died in Hot Car — But Feds Might Prosecute

I am chronically confused.

"Their mother [Cheyenne Trent] confirmed and showed me verification, including a tribal membership card, for not only herself but her oldest child, and her youngest child was in the process of obtaining one for herself."

I don't understand to which children this refers. She must have more children than the two who tragically (and senselessly) perished here. If the mother has a tribal membership card for "her oldest child" -- doesn't that mean Teagan (a 4-year-old female, now deceased)? I think so (to answer my own question). But, if she only has the two children, then Teagan would be "the older", and Ryan would be "the younger." I know this isn't an English class forum, but FGS can't the press do a better job?

Then, the articles goes on to say that "her youngest child [wouldn't that be Ryan, a 3-year-old male, now deceased?] was in the process of obtaining one for herself."
Ryan would not be referred to as "herself" -- being a male.

O.K. This must just be another one of a million cases of poor reporting. I honestly don't know what the article is talking about.

 

[PayrollNerd]

State Charges Dropped Against Okla. Dad Whose 2 Kids Died in Hot Car — But Feds Might Prosecute

I am chronically confused.

"Their mother [Cheyenne Trent] confirmed and showed me verification, including a tribal membership card, for not only herself but her oldest child, and her youngest child was in the process of obtaining one for herself."

I don't understand to which children this refers. She must have more children than the two who tragically (and senselessly) perished here. If the mother has a tribal membership card for "her oldest child" -- doesn't that mean Teagan (a 4-year-old female, now deceased)? I think so (to answer my own question). But, if she only has the two children, then Teagan would be "the older", and Ryan would be "the younger." I know this isn't an English class forum, but FGS can't the press do a better job?

Then, the articles goes on to say that "her youngest child [wouldn't that be Ryan, a 3-year-old male, now deceased?] was in the process of obtaining one for herself."
Ryan would not be referred to as "herself" -- being a male.

O.K. This must just be another one of a million cases of poor reporting. I honestly don't know what the article is talking about.

Tribal membership / proof / evidence or whatever it is officially referred to as, (no disrespect intended, please forgive my ignorance) is based on tribal registration. It is not based on DNA as one would expect.

The Supreme Courts' ruling on what is tribal land is going to make this case difficult to prosecute. It will be interesting to see going forward how this is handled. Who has jurisdiction, who can be prosecuted and under what rulings, what about past court cases, etc.

 

[alexwood]

Federal authorities charge Tulsa father in hot car deaths case

"A Criminal Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni is prosecuting the case."

 

[Seattle1]

Federal authorities charge Tulsa father in hot car deaths case

"A Criminal Complaint is a temporary charge alleging a violation of law. For the case to proceed to trial, the United States must present the charge to a federal Grand Jury within 30 days. Once a Grand Jury returns an Indictment, a defendant has a right to a jury trial at which the United States would have the burden of proving the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shannon Cozzoni is prosecuting the case."

Initially, the Tulsa County DA previously filed two counts of second-degree murder and child neglect against DD (father) before learning the mother/children are members of the Cherokee Nation.

At this time, US Attorney Trent Shores stated DD has been charged [only] with child neglect after he allegedly left his two children unsupervised for more than four hours, at which time the children gained access to his parked vehicle where they were later found deceased.

Does anybody know if the Federal Grand Jury returned an indictment for these charges? I believe today (Aug 14) marked 30 days.

Dad obviously did not leave the children inside the truck as originally believed but I agree that child neglect is appropriate for leaving his children unsupervised for more than four hours while he slept. MOO

 

[MsMarple]

August 7.
Due to the recent Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, the United States Attorney Trent Shores announced Friday that the Federal Grand Jury hit a record number of indictments.

The grand jury returned 39 unsealed and 11 sealed indictments.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury.

Dustin Dennis. Child Neglect in Indian Country. Dennis, 32, of Tulsa, is charged with willfully and maliciously failing to provide adequate nurturance, shelter, supervision, and appropriate caretakers for his two children. See the initial Criminal Complaint press release here. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.
Record number of indictments in August as a result of Supreme Court decision

Looks like the Grand Jury did indict.

 

[Seattle1]

August 7.
Due to the recent Supreme Court decision in McGirt v. Oklahoma, the United States Attorney Trent Shores announced Friday that the Federal Grand Jury hit a record number of indictments.

The grand jury returned 39 unsealed and 11 sealed indictments.

The following individuals have been charged with violations of United States law in indictments returned by the Grand Jury.

Dustin Dennis. Child Neglect in Indian Country. Dennis, 32, of Tulsa, is charged with willfully and maliciously failing to provide adequate nurturance, shelter, supervision, and appropriate caretakers for his two children. See the initial Criminal Complaint press release here. The FBI and Tulsa Police Department are the investigative agencies.
Record number of indictments in August as a result of Supreme Court decision

Looks like the Grand Jury did indict.

Thanks for update @MsMarple.

 

[TXBorn]

Dad Pleads Guilty to Neglect After Children, 3 and 4, Climbed into Hot Truck and Died While He Slept

“On Tuesday, Dustin Dennis pleaded guilty to two counts of child neglect in connection with the June 2020 deaths of his 4-year-old daughter Teagan and 3-year-old son Ryan”

“As part of his plea agreement, Dennis admitted that while caring for his children, he got high on cocaine and stayed up to play video games. At one point, Dennis fell asleep, leaving his two children unsupervised. During that time, the children entered Dennis's vehicle in the driveway and got trapped inside, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. They subsequently died of heat exposure.”

“As part of a plea agreement, Dennis, 32, faces three to six years in federal prison followed by five years of supervision after his release.”

 

[Seattle1]

Dad Pleads Guilty to Neglect After Children, 3 and 4, Climbed into Hot Truck and Died While He Slept

“On Tuesday, Dustin Dennis pleaded guilty to two counts of child neglect in connection with the June 2020 deaths of his 4-year-old daughter Teagan and 3-year-old son Ryan”

“As part of his plea agreement, Dennis admitted that while caring for his children, he got high on cocaine and stayed up to play video games. At one point, Dennis fell asleep, leaving his two children unsupervised. During that time, the children entered Dennis's vehicle in the driveway and got trapped inside, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. They subsequently died of heat exposure.”

“As part of a plea agreement, Dennis, 32, faces three to six years in federal prison followed by five years of supervision after his release.”

"I failed my children," Dennis said in court Tuesday, the Tulsa World reports. "I didn't do what I was supposed to do, and because of that they died."

What hollow words from a man that could not devote 24 hours to the health and welfare of his children. He had 6 out of 7 days to get high on cocaine and stay up to play video games and chose to do this selfish act when he would be in the care of his children. He didn't deserve those beautiful kids! MOO

 

[PayrollNerd]

Dad Pleads Guilty to Neglect After Children, 3 and 4, Climbed into Hot Truck and Died While He Slept

“On Tuesday, Dustin Dennis pleaded guilty to two counts of child neglect in connection with the June 2020 deaths of his 4-year-old daughter Teagan and 3-year-old son Ryan”

“As part of his plea agreement, Dennis admitted that while caring for his children, he got high on cocaine and stayed up to play video games. At one point, Dennis fell asleep, leaving his two children unsupervised. During that time, the children entered Dennis's vehicle in the driveway and got trapped inside, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. They subsequently died of heat exposure.”

“As part of a plea agreement, Dennis, 32, faces three to six years in federal prison followed by five years of supervision after his release.”

I read this the other day and thought oh I hope the pain of his drug withdrawal was a hundred times worse than these sweet babies experienced as they died. What a disgusting human being he is. He definitely didn’t deserve to have unsupervised visitation as an addict.

 

[Seattle1]

I read this the other day and thought oh I hope the pain of his drug withdrawal was a hundred times worse than these sweet babies experienced as they died. What a disgusting human being he is. He definitely didn’t deserve to have unsupervised visitation as an addict.

I don't recall any evidence that the defendant is an addict. For all we know, it could have been a pay-day, weekend splurge.

What we do know is that the parents had equal custody and even though it was not the dad's weekend to have the children, he specifically asked to have the kids during this time and the mother obliged him. That's the very painful truth...

Mother Speaks After Children Found Dead In Hot Vehicle

 

[insearchoflight]

Wow!

so charges dropped because the children are native Americans and crime occurred on Native American land. So it’s up to Native American courts or federal courts to prosecute? Have I got that right?

 

[Seattle1]

Wow!

so charges dropped because the children are native Americans and crime occurred on Native American land. So it’s up to Native American courts or federal courts to prosecute? Have I got that right?

No, not really. The charges were never expected to be heard under Tribal conditions because they simply do not have the capacity or infrastructure to carry out judicial practice. The case was transferred to US Northern District of OK and a plea agreement was reached so there will be no trial.

As part of the plea agreement, Dennis and the United States agreed to a sentence between 36 and 72 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan will determine the final sentence at a hearing set for Nov. 10, 2021.

Dennis and his brother, MD, were also charged in a superseding indictment, with use of a communication facility in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony.

Tulsa Man Pleads Guilty to Felony Child Neglect

 

[wendybtn]

Kids not checked for 5 hours -- that's one sleepy father.

Two kids dead during visitation doesn't look good.

More than sleepy in my opinion.

 

[wendybtn]

Feds have jurisdiction over Tribal lands.

 

[Seattle1]

Tulsa Man Whose Children Died in a Hot Vehicle Sentenced for Child Neglect.

Nov 8, 2021

[..]

U.S. District Judge Claire V. Eagan sentenced Dustin Lee Dennis, 33, to 48 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.

Dennis fell asleep on June 13, 2020, only to wake up and discover his two children deceased in the back seat of his pick-up truck. He pleaded guilty on July 13, 2021, to two counts of child neglect in Indian Country. Three-year-old Ryan and four-year-old Tegan were citizens of the Cherokee Nation, and the crime occurred within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation Reservation.

Dennis fell asleep the afternoon of June 13, 2020, leaving his two children unsupervised. The children entered Dennis’s vehicle in the driveway, were unable to get out of the truck, and died from exposure to extremely high temperatures while being trapped in the truck.

In his plea agreement, Dennis admitted that while caring for his children on June 12 and 13, 2020, he got high on cocaine and stayed up playing video games.

[..]

Dustin Dennis was initially indicted on Aug. 7, 2020. On March 4, 2021, Dennis was charged in a superseding indictment with four counts of child neglect in Indian Country. He and his brother, Michael Dennis, were also charged with 12 counts of use of a communication facility in committing, causing, and facilitating the commission of a drug trafficking felony.

Michael Dennis pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance on July 29, 2021, and was sentenced Monday to 18 months of probation.