More Victims Come Forward In Alleged Muskogee Adoption Scam

Ashli Sims, News On 6

MUSKOGEE, Oklahoma -- More victims came forward as the woman accused in a multi-state adoption scam made her first court appearance Monday.

A Muskogee county judge denied bail for 20-year-old Davanna Dotson, who's facing eight counts of fraud.

Law enforcement officers are crediting a News On Six investigation with prompting potential victims to come forward. Calls have poured in from across the country, all adoptive parents with the same story.

They claim they gave Davanna Dotson money and she promised them a baby, who doesn't exist.

"Well, it shocks the conscious to do something like this," said Larry Moore, Muskogee County DA.

Last week, a Virginia couple told News On 6 Crime Reporter Lori Fullbright they believed they were going to adopt Dotson's baby.

9/22/2011 Related Story: Muskogee Woman Accused Of Adoption Fraud

They say Dotson texted them this picture and when she asked for cash for expenses like diapers and baby formula. They sent the money, only to find out there was no baby.

"To think that your dream is going to be fulfilled and that's being taken advantage of at your most vulnerable point. It's just disappointing that someone would prey on that," said the victim from Virginia.

I've received calls on this girl for two years now," said Lt Bobby Lee, Muskogee Police.

Muskogee police say they just needed a victim to come forward and be willing to testify. After the News On 6 story, the victims poured in from Virginia, Utah, Alabama, Tennessee, New York, Texas and Kanas.

"I made contact with her over the phone a couple of weeks ago. She continued to do it. She's shown no remorse at that time. When we made contact with her on Friday she's shown no remorse," Lee said.

Lori Fullbright talked to Davanna Dotson last week. She told her that she gave a baby up for adoption several years ago and was traumatized by the process.

"Adoption agencies take advantage of couples. They scam couples out of [money] promising a baby and they don't get a baby. So what is $600… $400? I don't understand this," she said.

Investigators say Dotson has shown no remorse. In fact, Muskogee County's District Attorney says even after our story aired last Thursday, Dotson was talking to other couples on Friday.

Dotson's family was in court Monday, but they refused to speak to News On 6.