An Oklahoma grandmother allegedly drugged her grandkids and locked them in a canine cage for hours when she wished to exit alone, based on a year-long investigation of abuse accusations.
Davena Marx, 53, is accused of feeding the 2 kids — whom she had full custody of — anti-psychotic medication, whipping them with a belt, grinding her heels into their ft, and forcing them to train till they collapsed, based on native reviews.
She was charged with varied counts of kid abuse and little one neglect in opposition to her 8-year-old granddaughter and 6-year-old grandson, Native 12 reported.
“Memaw sells medication and makes use of them,” one of many kids informed investigators after they had been rescued from the alleged home of horrors within the metropolis of Warr Acres. “She makes us keep within the canine cage when she needs to go outdoors by herself.”
The younger boy informed investigators that Marx, whom he referred to as “Memaw” gave him Seroquel, a sleep-inducing drug used to deal with schizophrenia that’s solely presupposed to be taken by youngsters older than 13.
Police stated that traces of the drug had been present in each Marx’s grandson and granddaughter.
A social employee from the Division of Human Companies carried out a welfare examine final yr after receiving a tip about abuse, based on native reviews.
The granddaughter texted a social employee, “she is imply to us, she could be very abusive,” based on OKCFOX.
The youngsters had been instantly faraway from the house.
Officers transported the youngsters to a Protected Clinic, the place they had been examined and interviewed concerning the alleged abuse, based on Regulation & Crime.
Medical doctors stated the granddaughter had bruising on her again that was per being crushed with a belt, based on the outlet.
The grandchildren stated that Marx bodily and emotionally abused them, together with forcing them to do calisthenic workouts till their limbs gave out, the publication reported.
A neighbor approached authorities after the youngsters had been rescued and informed them that he had seen the siblings digging round in rubbish dumpsters trying to find meals, based on reviews.
Warr Acres Assistant Police Chief Jason Allen stated Marx’s arrest got here in Might, after in depth interviews along with her grandchildren.
“The day we went out with them, there was sufficient to right away take away the youngsters, which is commonly not the case,” Allen stated.
Officers obtained a search warrant for the condo and located marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a bottle of Alprazolam and a bottle of Seroquel, which had been each prescribed to Marx, based on reviews.
“They did discover a big canine cage within the residence,” Allen stated. “In addition they did find Seroquel, which was additionally one of many allegations that Seroquel had been given to the youngsters as nicely.”
Marx took custody of her grandchildren in 2022 after their father was gunned down in a street rage incident, based on a GoFundMe put up.
