Missouri Foster Worker Charged with Trafficking Girls under Her Care
A Lawrence County woman, Lawanna Wilson, is facing two counts of child sex trafficking and five counts of child endangerment after investigators say she exploited teenage girls in her care while working for the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home in Mt. Vernon.
According to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Wilson would reportedly bring teenage girls from the foster care facility to her home and leave them alone with her son, Tanner Wilson.
Tanner Wilson was already facing multiple child sex crime charges in 2023, including rape, attempted rape, sexual abuse, and child abuse. During that period, he was out on bond and wearing an ankle monitor when his mother facilitated the trafficking of the girls.
Investigators revealed that Tanner had previously pleaded guilty to messaging an 8-year-old girl on Snapchat, offering to send her explicit photos. He is now serving time for those offenses.
Lawanna Wilson is currently being held in the Lawrence County Jail without bail. It remains unclear why charges were filed two years after the investigation concluded.
Every child has the right to protection from trafficking and exploitation, and it is the responsibility of the State and institutions to ensure their safety, especially in foster care systems meant to protect them.
