MIDWEST CITY, Okla (KFOR) — A now-fired Oklahoma Human Services (DHS) employee is behind bars accused of kidnapping a child.
On Sunday, Feb. 2, Midwest City Police responded to a possible kidnapping by an Oklahoma DHS employee.
According to the affidavit, Xander Faison showed up at the mother’s home in Midwest City on Jan. 30, stating she worked for DHS.
Faison showed an emergency custody form and said if the child was not handed over, police would take her away.
Believing the documents were real, the mother allowed Faison to take her child; she was under the impression the girl would be cared for by a relative and approved foster parent in Shawnee.
According to the affidavit, that’s not what happened. Instead, Faison took the child to her apartment and kept her there for three days. Police arrested Faison at the same apartment on Feb. 2.
A DHS employee told authorities that Faison was in training for DHS and took calls through the DHS hotline.
She was not authorized for fieldwork, and the documents were falsified.
The employee also stated that Faison had access to numerous databases through DHS software from her work laptop, personal laptop, or cellphone.
When investigators asked Faison about the documents, she said, “Yes, I got them from the internet.”
Faison also told investigators that she was contacted by someone in November of 2024 about taking custody of the child because the mother did not want her.
She said it sounded like she needed help and wanted to help her.
When asked if she illegally used her position to take the child, she said, “Yeah.”
DHS says Faison was terminated.
Faison is currently in the Oklahoma County Jail facing a kidnapping charge, Midwest City Police says more charges are anticipated.
DHS said in a statement:
As an agency dedicated to the safety and wellbeing of our state’s children, Oklahoma Human Services holds its staff to very high standards, particularly in their application of state and federal laws designed to protect child safety. Upon learning of this employee’s reported misconduct, the agency immediately notified law enforcement and is cooperating in its investigation. In addition, the individual’s employment has been terminated, and the Department has begun its own internal inquiry. The Department is also working diligently to ensure the safety of everyone involved, most importantly any child impacted by these events. Our commitment to protecting Oklahoma’s children remains steadfast and uncompromising.
Oklahoma Human Services
Jeffrey Cartmell, Director of Human Services, also issued the following statement:
“This former employee’s alleged actions are absolutely shameful and violate the core values of our agency. Let me be clear—there is zero tolerance for this kind of misconduct. The safety and well-being of Oklahoma’s children is our highest priority, and we will act swiftly and decisively to uphold that commitment. While this is an isolated incident, we remain vigilant in ensuring the integrity of our workforce, and any employee who engages in such behavior will be immediately terminated.”