Hospital employees were shocked when a 12-year-old girl was rushed into labor and delivery, giving birth to her 24-year-old lover’s baby. However, police were even more concerned when they heard the excuse the girl’s mother gave.
Oklahoma medical professionals were stunned when a 12-year-old girl was rushed to Hillcrest Hospital in Tulsa mid-labor, giving birth to her first child. Of course, their surprise quickly turned to horror when the young mother’s adult lover, 24-year-old Juan Miranda-Jara, unashamedly expressed his excitement over the arrival of his new baby.
The girl, who is just old enough to be in the 5th or 6th grade, was immediately checked into the hospital for emergency care while medical staff called the police on Miranda-Jara for the rape of a minor. Officers stated that Miranda-Jara proudly declared he is the father of the baby and acted confused as to why the police were even involved.
“They walked in just like any other couple would, excited to deliver their newborn child,” Tulsa Police Officer Danny Bean told FOX23.
Juan Miranda-Jara was arrested while the girl gave birth to a healthy baby without any complications. He was charged with first-degree rape of a minor after confessing to police that he had impregnated the girl.
“We don’t believe this is incest at this time,” Bean said. “We know there are many people in the community who are shocked by this, grossed out by this, disturbed by this, have questions, a whole range of emotions. But in time, we will be able to give the community the answers they want. We just don’t have all the answers right now to give them, and we don’t want to compromise the investigation that’s still happening and really just now getting started.”
Even more disturbing was the fact that Miranda-Jara had the blessing of the girl’s mother to continue a relationship with the child. Police confirmed that Desiree Castaneda allegedly threw a baby shower for her daughter and the father-to-be, according to the Toronto Sun. In fact, many family members and friends not only knew about the child’s sexual relationship and pregnancy but even celebrated it after it was publicly announced on social media.
“The investigation revealed that the victim’s mother and family members were aware of the relationship between the victim and Miranda-Jara,” Tulsa Police said in a news release. “The family permitted the relationship, and there are photos of the family throwing a baby shower for the victim and the suspect.”
Investigators were baffled as to how so many friends and family members knew about the 12-year-old girl engaging in a sexual relationship with the man and not one of them ever contacted either law enforcement or child protective services. The uncomfortable truth is that there is a deep cultural divide on the matter.
As seen on social media, the response from the Hispanic community was in stark disagreement, since teen and preteen pregnancies have become an epidemic across Latin America. Disturbingly, many Spanish-speakers are defending Miranda-Jara, exposing a serious cultural divide.
“Rather they should commend [Miranda-Jara], for being a responsible man…” one person wrote.
Another agreed, insisting that “the girl loves him, gave herself to him, and he stepped up as a good father and partner…”
“If the guy becomes responsible, I think there is no issue,” another said, focusing on whether the man will take care of the baby.
“But why would they say it was abuse?” another asked. “Did the girl disagree in having sex?”
“But that depends on the minor child because, if she wanted it and allowed herself to get pregnant, that depends on her consent…” another wrote.
Desiree Castaneda was arrested and charged with child neglect and enabling child sex abuse. Sadly but unsurprisingly, the 12-year-old girl’s biological father is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for an unrelated rape.
Both the girl and her baby are doing well and were placed in the custody of the state. It is unclear whether they will be released to any family members.
Although the age of consent is 16 in Oklahoma, this isn’t the case in many countries around the world. Children as young as 12 and 13 are considered legally able to consent to sexual intercourse in various countries, proving that law doesn’t dictate morality.
While multiculturalism can be a beneficial aspect of our nation, there are dangerous qualities as well. Simply because a certain practice is part of a foreign culture doesn’t mean it deserves our respect or approval.
