An Oklahoma couple found themselves under arrest in Nevada after fleeing their home state when Oklahoma authorities launched a child sexual abuse investigation against them.
Nathan Potier, aged 36, faces charges of child sexual assault in Oklahoma County. His girlfriend, also 36, has been accused of enabling the sexual abuse of a child, according to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Legal documents from Oklahoma reveal that Potier and Palmer, who is listed as Erica Ramirez in the records, allegedly involved a 14-year-old girl in a surrogate arrangement, as reported by KFOR. The investigation was initiated in December after Child Protective Services alerted Oklahoma City police that the teenager was pregnant with twins.
According to police, Ramirez confessed to authorities that she desired children with her boyfriend but was unable to conceive due to a medical procedure that tied her tubes. Before investigators could serve a warrant for Potier’s DNA, the couple vanished from Oklahoma.
Authorities issued arrest warrants and began a search for the pair. Court records indicated prior allegations in California that Potier had abused the same girl, with Palmer’s knowledge.
The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office reported that, following a collaborative investigation with several agencies, tips led them to believe Potier and Palmer were hiding in the Reno/Sparks region. They were apprehended in Sparks and taken to the Washoe County jail on fugitive warrants, pending extradition to Oklahoma.
Investigators did not say how the teen was connected with Palmer and Potier but said she had been placed in foster care.
