Rebecca Hogue, a 28-year-old cocktail waitress in Norman, Oklahoma, arrived home at 4 am after working the New Years’ Eve shift in 2020. She had left her 2-year-old son Ryder at home with her boyfriend Christopher Trent during work. Once home, she peeked in on Ryder, who appeared to be sleeping in his crib. So, tired from a long night on her feet, Rebecca went to bed.

Join us at the quiet end for Rebecca Hogue and the Failure to Protect Laws. When Rebecca woke up a few hours later, Trent was gone. She went to check on Ryder and found him still in his crib, cold and not breathing. Rebecca called 911 and performed CPR, but it was too late. Ryder was dead. Police searched for Trent, but even after he was found and determined to be guilty, the police were not done with Rebecca.

Sources

Her Boyfriend Killed Her Baby While She Was at Work. Oklahoma is Sending Her to Prison, Motherjones.com, retrieved 6/2/2025.

The Law of Motherhood in the Gender Dependent Application of Criminal Responsibility for Failing to Protect Children, law.georgetwon.edu, Deborah Anthony, 2022, retrieved 6/2/2025.

Review of Death of Jeremiah Ryder Johnson, Jr. of Cleveland County, Oklahoma, Office of Juvenile System Oversight, 7/26/2022, retrieved 6/2/2025.