MCDONALD COUNTY, Mo. — Two McDonald County teenage girls allegedly plot to kill their foster parents and their caseworker is now charged for withholding a note that laid out those plans.
Emily Flatt is facing felony charges of tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution. She is a case manager at Missouri Baptist Children’s Home and was assigned to the two teen girls.
A warrant was issued for her arrest today with a $1,500 bond.
A probable cause affidavit says Flatt requested a conference on November 1 at the McDonald County Courthouse, where she told officers about a plot the teen girls had made to murder their foster parents. Flatt also reportedly told authorities where they could find a kitchen knife and bottle of Coke laced with bleach and/or other unknown substances.
Court records say authorities were given consent to search the house that same day which led to the discovery of those items – a knife hidden under a bedroom blanket and bottle of Coke near the freezer in a bedroom.
Last week, the foster parent told the investigating officer that Flatt had instructed them to pick up one of the teens from the McDonald County High School. The foster parent told authorities that’s when the teen disclosed they had a step-by-step plan written down.
When officers asked Flatt about the letter and if it was in her possession, she denied having it. The officer says Flatt also denied the note existed and then refused to answer any more questions without a lawyer present. She said her supervisor told her she would not answer any more questions without her attorney.
A juvenile officer asked if the juvenile could be released in order to place her in detention and the officer says Flatt told them they “will need to contact her attorney.”
Officers say because Flatt refused to disclose the juvenile’s location, she endangered other children, foster care professionals, and the community.
As a caseworker – Flatt has a duty to disclose this type of information under the Revised Statutes of Missouri.