Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Mother who married son faces incest charges for marrying daughter in US

Patricia Spann and her daughter Misty Spann married in Oklahoma in March

Lizzie Dearden
Thursday 08 September 2016 09:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A mother and her daughter are facing prosecution for incest after marrying each other in the American state of Oklahoma.

Police issued arrest warrants for Patricia Ann Spann, 43, and Misty Velvet Dawn Spann, 25, on Friday after discovering they married each other in March.

Local authorities uncovered the relationship last month during a child welfare investigation and later learned Patricia had also married her son in 2008.

He filed for an annulment 15 months later, citing “incest” and stating he was married to his birth mother, according to an affidavit.

Patricia said she had lost custody of three children, who were cared for by a grandparent, but reunited with her daughter two years ago.

The motivation behind her marriage to Misty remained unclear after an appearance at Stephens County district court on Wednesday.

She told officials she was unaware she was breaking any laws by marrying Misty because her name was not listed on her daughter’s birth certificate.

Both women were being held in Stephens County Jail in Duncan, Oklahoma.

Under state law, marrying a close relative is considered incest whether or not a sexual relationship exists.

Same-sex marriage has been legally recognised in Oklahoma since October 2014 after a lawsuit challenged a state-wide ban.

Additional reporting by AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in