By John Dobberstein, Editor
Clayton Woolley, the subject of a long-running custody dispute over allegations of abuse at his guardian’s home, has apparently been moved to another foster home.
Sen. Dana Prieto (R-Tulsa) said conversations he’s had with Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office indicate Clayton, a 14-year-old from Broken Arrow, was placed in a different location, although he didn’t have details on the boy’s location or who made the decision.
The news comes as a letter from lawmakers demanding an investigation of the Broken Arrow child’s custody situation was released to the public. Pressure has been mounting in recent weeks for state agencies and Stitt’s office to review how the case is being handled.
Lisa Woolley, Clayton’s grandmother, told the Sentinel that his birth mother, Desiree Woolley, is not being informed about the status of her child — which could be a violation of state policies that govern the specific guardianship Clayton has been under.
Prieto said he’s in the process of providing clarification of Desiree Woolley’s parental rights to the state, as both he and the Woolley family insist she did not sign them away several years ago.
Prieto also sent a letter to Stitt last Monday requesting the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation “of the circumstances surrounding this case,” rather than local law enforcement or district attorneys, noting the allegations of abuse were no longer hearsay but stated by Clayton himself to Broken Arrow police.
Prieto sent a similar letter that same day to Tulsa County District Attorney Steven Kunzweiler requesting OSBI get involved.
Clayton has been living with Amanda Lindstrom for 7 years after his grandparents, Lisa and Bill Woolley, were charged in the death of his young brother, Elijah, in 2018.
After expert testimony raised serious questions about the autopsy findings on Elijah, the Wagoner County District Attorney’s Office dropped the charges 3 years later. But Clayton was prevented by the courts from being placed or even visited by any family, opting instead to place him with Lindstrom.
Court records and affidavits alleged there have been as many as14 referrals to DHS via complaints from school staff, neighbors and coworkers over the last several years.
“Even when claims are marked unsubstantiated, they may still form a meaningful pattern when examined together as a timeline,” the letter said.
Last Sunday Clayton ran away from Lindstrom’s home to where his half-brothers are being cared for by their guardian, Julia Evans. Evans was a Department of Human Services caseworker in 2024 when she filed for a protective order alleging the boys were being abused in Lindstrom’s home.
The boys were removed due to the protective order, which has been renewed 7 times, but Clayton was not.
A hearing in Tulsa County District Court over Desiree Woolley’s protective order request regarding Clayton is slated for July 9.
On April 1, several state lawmakers sent a lengthy letter DHS Director Jeffrey Cartmell demanding a “comprehensive review” of all DHS referrals, investigations and documentation related to the Lindstrom household.
They also asked DHS to provide “consistent and transparent communication” Desiree Woolley, with Clayton’s biological mother.
“Multiple events involving (DHS), school personnel, witnesses, and documented allegations indicate that Clayton may be at risk and that statutory child-protection responsibilities warrant immediate review,” the letter said.
The lawmakers said Desiree Woolley has repeatedly contacted DHS seeking confirmation of her son’s safety and location, including numerous contacts made the week of Feb. 22 that were not responded to by the agency.
In the previous week, Broken Arrow Public Schools staff, “allegedly witnessed an incident involving Clayton. Following that day, a school official reported that Clayton refused to board the school bus.
“When his grandmother, Barbara Lindstrom, arrived at the school, she allegedly stated, ‘He won’t be back,’ the letter said. “Clayton was subsequently suspended for two days and did not attend school on the third day until after a welfare check was conducted. He reportedly arrived approximately one hour after that welfare check.”
In July 2024, Clayton’s half-brothers disclosed multiple allegations of abuse within the Lindstrom household, including beatings with spoons, being forced to eat only mustard sandwiches, being locked in a closet, having showers administered by a non-relative adult male and being required to share a bedroom with the same male.
Lawmakers asserted that “multiple statutory obligations appear to be implicated” in the case, including failure to ensure child safety, failure to investigate abuse referrals, failure to act on imminent danger despite evidence that could justify protective custody and, “lack of procedural transparency toward the biological mother.”
The letter was signed by state Senators Prieto, Randy Grellnar, Shane Jett and Dusty Deevers, and state Representatives Molly Jenkins, Gabe Woolley (Clayton’s uncle), Kevin West, Justin Humphrey, Jim Shaw and John Waldron.
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