October 15, 2024

An Elk City couple has been released from the Beckham County Detention Center after being charged with child neglect.

The investigation started in late July when an Elk City Police Department detective was contacted by an investigator from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. According to a probable cause affidavit, the case involved a woman who allegedly tested positive for controlled substances after giving birth.

The affidavit identifies the woman as 22-year-old Raven Thunderbull, who reportedly attempted to use fake urine during testing and denied using methamphetamine and marijuana. However, a "cord stat test" for the newborn showed no methamphetamine. Both Thunderbull and a second person, 21-year-old Stephen Phillips, were interviewed and allegedly admitted to using meth in July.

The detective also consulted with a parole and probation officer supervising the defendants and learned that Thunderbull and Phillips had tested positive for drugs in July, leading to the child neglect charges.