HASKELL, Okla. – Kaytlin Fultz is now out of jail after posting a $7,500 bail bond for a misdemeanor child neglect charge in Muscogee (Creek) Nation District Court on Feb. 27. Fultz is a citizen of Cherokee Nation who lives within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation jurisdictional boundaries. The alleged child neglect took place at Fultz’s residence when a foster child was left outside in freezing cold temperatures. Fultz’s husband, Andrew Fultz, who is not a citizen of a federally-recognized tribe, was charged with a felony child neglect charge in Muskogee County. He was released after posting a $50,000 bail bond.
The Fultzs are foster parents who have been accused of abuse by other parents and neighbors.
The couple came under investigation when an online video went viral of a girl standing outside in freezing cold temperatures on Feb. 19. The girl appears to be wearing nothing but pajamas and no shoes. She can be seen hiking her legs up, trying to keep her bare feet off the freezing ground. She can also be heard begging to be let back inside. This was allegedly a form of punishment.
According to Kaytlin Fultz’s attorney, the foster child was removed from Fultzs’ foster home on Feb. 22. The Fultzs surrendered themselves to Muskogee County authorities on Feb. 25. A motion to dismiss Kaytlin Fultz’s charges due to lack of jurisdiction was filed on the same day. The charges were thrown out of court on Feb. 26.
When the video went viral, the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Child Crimes Investigation unit contacted the Haskell Police Department to inform them that they were available to take over the case if one of the perpetrators or the victim was a Native American citizen. The City of Haskell has a cross deputization agreement with the Nation.
According to Press Secretary Jason Salsman, Haskell Chief of Police Zachery Stephens was initially cooperative with Lighthorse officers, but that changed when Muskogee County District Attorney Larry Edwards got involved.
Edwards claimed he notified the Nation once it was discovered that Kaytlin Fultz was a Cherokee citizen. The Nation says Edwards did not immediately notify them when Kaytlin Fultz was arrested.
“We have some diversion here, we didn’t get the case right away, but at the top of the affidavit for probable cause she (Kaytlin Fultz) was listed as American Indian. So they new right away that she was a Native” Salsman said.
A medical examiner’s report listed the foster child was unharmed. A Department of Human Services check listed the foster house was found in high compliance and that there was no immediate danger to the other foster children living in the home.
According to Salsman, the reason why Kaytlin’s charge was only a misdemeanor was because the Nation does not have felony child neglect charges within the tribal court system. Regardless, the Nation is intent on bringing Kaytlin Fultz to justice.
Salsman shared the Nation’s frustration with how this case was handled by outside law enforcement agencies, he believes the situation could have been handled with more transparency.
“The Nation is extremely disappointed in another instance of noncooperation from a fellow law enforcement agency, not with Haskell PD, we think this lies with the Muskogee County DA,” Salsman said. “We’ve had problems in the past, here they are again. We feel if the Nation had this case from the get go, there wouldn’t be the public outcry that there is, and we would have been able to handle this more quickly.”
Kaytlin Fultz is a teacher at Preston Public Schools. She was put on administrative leave in light of the misdemeanor charge. The Oklahoma Department of Investigation is currently investigating Fultz’s conduct as a teacher.
Kaytlin Fultz’s next appearance in MCN District Court is scheduled for March 17. Andrew Fultz’s next appearance in Muskogee County District Court is March 11.
This sounds about right. The D.A thinks that Native Laws shouldn’t apply here if they aren’t bringing up charges. She should be charged if she did something wrong just like everyone else. She should not be allowed children if she is found guilty of the crime she is accused of.
That little girl suffered and was treated horribly. No telling what else they did for punishment. Why even foster children if you are going to treat them like that. People like that are the lowest of the low. DHS should be ashamed of themselves too for putting those children in a so called “Home” like that. If I had a bigger place I definitely would foster a child.
Dont call her Native
Don’t put that juju on us lol
👏🏼
So, she puts a 7 year old child out in 12 degree weather in only pj’s and no shoes, AND THE JUDGE THINKS THERE IS NO DANGER TO THE OTHER FOSTER CHILDREN IN THAT HOUSE! And no jail time? $7500. Is that the worth of a 7 year old? And now they are fighting amongst themselves as to who should have handled it. I’ll tell you who. Someone with some sense!
The sad thing is had the community of Haskell not stood up for this child there would have probably been nothing done. The foster parents should have been arrested on the spot and the children removed right then. People had to make calls, post and reach out to the media before anything was done. What’s really sad is there were people charged with animal cruelty and neglect that went directly to jail and had bigger bonds. The way this has been handled is unacceptable.