On Sept. 4, Deputy French along with the Children's Division responded to a home in Halfway, Missouri, to assist in the removal of children from the residence of 31-year-old female Stephanie Dawn Crawford. Unable to locate anyone at the time, they came back and removed an eight-year-old and four-year-old victim on Sept. 7, due to negligent and unsanitary living conditions. On Sept. 16, the victims underwent a forensic interview and medical examination.
During the interview, the victims described in detail inappropriate sexual acts that Crawford had forced the victims to do. During the examination, multiple scars, marks, and bruises were photographed of the victims. One of the victims had Marfan Syndrome, which at the time the victim was not under physician care.
On Sept. 23, Crawford spoke with police, agreeing her residence was not fit for children. However, she denied any intercourse with the victims. She later became angry, and decided not to further answer any questions. She was arrested at the end of the interview. Crawford was charged with two counts of first degree child molestation, and two counts of abuse or neglect of a child.
All persons accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
