Ongoing: Serenity Deal

Serenity Deal
Serenity died of severe head injuries less than a month after being placed in her father’s care after her mother was accused of molesting a 10-year-old boy. She was placed with her father from foster care, even though she was injured twice in January during overnight visits.

Related Articles from NewsOK and The Oklahoman

Horrific deaths prompted calls for reform December 25, 2011 Beginning with Kelsey Smith-Briggs, a series of high-profile child deaths in Oklahoma have prompted demands for reform. Read More
Oklahoma City dad pleads guilty to murdering 5-year-old daughter December 03, 2011 Sean Devon Brooks, 32, of Oklahoma City, pleaded guilty to killing his 5-year-old daughter, Serenity Deal, and was sentenced to life in prison. The tragedy touched off renewed scrutiny of problems at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Read More
Oklahoma counties have history of child death problems November 06, 2011 Records reveal that two to the 11 Oklahoma DHS workers and supervisors allegedly involved in her case have been disciplined by the agency within the last four years. Read More
Oklahoma Department of Human Services director defends agency, commissioners September 21, 2011 Howard Hendrick said agency doing a lot of right things. Read More
Second Oklahoma DHS worker fired in Serenity Deal case September 21, 2011 Randy J. Lack, 58, a Pottawatomie County child-welfare specialist, has denied doing anything wrong. He worked for the Department of Human Services for 11 years. Read More
DHS supervisor in Serenity Deal case fired September 15, 2011 A DHS supervisor involved in the Serenity Deal case has been fired. Pottawatomie County supervisor Jennifer Shawn was notified Thursday morning. Read More
Autopsy finds Serenity Deal died from an assault that caused an “acute closed head injury' September 14, 2011 Oklahoma City girl, who was 5, also suffered “multiple additional blunt force trauma, including … rib fractures,” chief medical examiner reported. Read More
Oklahoma DHS promises to do better job of informing public September 14, 2011 Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater says he still has concerns after getting complaints that DHS violated Open Meeting Act. Read More
Oklahoma DHS workers say they will fight expected firings September 14, 2011 Two Oklahoma Department of Human Services workers deny wrongdoing in Serenity Deal case. Read More
At a glance: Accusations against two Oklahoma DHS in Serenity Deal case September 12, 2011 These are some of the accusations against two Oklahoma DHS workers in the Serenity Deal case. Read More
Oklahoma DHS workers on Serenity Deal case deny wrongdoing, say they are being singled out for firing September 12, 2011 The child-welfare workers' attorney, Pete Serrata, said Oklahoma Department of Human Services' policy failures are to blame for Serenity Deal's death, and the proposed firings are “a politically expedient way of disposing of” DHS' failure. Read More
Oklahoma DHS governing board refuses special meeting on Serenity Deal death September 11, 2011 Serenity Deal, 5, died in Oklahoma City after being placed with father by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. Read More
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2 former DHS workers charged in Serenity Deal case thumbnail

2 former DHS workers charged in Serenity Deal case

Nov 9Pottawatomie County District Attorney Richard Smothermon...

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DHS worker Donald Wheeler's call to an attorney

Sep 23Donald Wheeler places a phone call to an attorney's...

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DHS worker termination addressed

Sep 15An attorney addresses the termination of DHS workers in...

Oklahoma DHS workers on Serenity Deal case deny wrongdoing, say they are being singled out for firing thumbnail

Oklahoma DHS workers on Serenity Deal case deny wrongdoing, say they are being singled out for firing

Sep 13Two DHS child-welfare workers deny wrongdoing in the...

Oklahoma City man arrested in death of daughter thumbnail

Oklahoma City man arrested in death of daughter

Jun 6Oklahoma City police have arrested a man on complaints of...

DHS investigative team

Randy Ellis

Randy Ellis
For the past 30 years, staff writer Randy Ellis has exposed public corruption and government mismanagement in news articles. Ellis has investigated problems in Oklahoma's higher education institutions and wrote stories that ultimately led to two college presidents being sentenced to prison and a former chancellor being forced to resign. He has written about abuses of Oklahoma's workers' compensation system, corruption in the state's municipal bond industry, bid-rigging by county officials, self-dealing by state housing officials, misconduct involving state legislators and a variety of other topics. Ellis has won more than 80 state, regional and national awards for journalistic excellence. Prior to joining The Oklahoman in 1982, Ellis worked at Arkansas newspapers. He is a 1977 graduate of Kansas State University.
phone: (405)475-3522
email: rellis@opubco.com

Nolan Clay

Nolan Clay
Nolan Clay was born in Oklahoma and has worked for The Oklahoman since 1985. He covered the bombing trials and witnessed bomber Tim McVeigh's execution. His investigative reports have brought down public officials, exposed shysters and resulted in reforms in such areas as day care oversight and workers' compensation court. He is a proud father and Sooner football fan. His wedding in 2001 was on the 50-yard line of Owen Field.
phone: (405)475-3929
email: nclay@opubco.com