An Oklahoma grandmother allegedly drugged her grandkids and locked them in a canine cage for hours when she needed to exit alone, in line with 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 toes, and forcing them to train till they collapsed, in line with native experiences.
She was charged with varied counts of kid abuse and baby neglect in opposition to her 8-year-old granddaughter and 6-year-old grandson, Native 12 reported.
“Memaw sells drugs and uses them,” one of many kids informed investigators after they have been rescued from the alleged home of horrors within the metropolis of Warr Acres. “She makes us stay in the dog cage when she wants to go outside 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 imagined to be taken by children older than 13.
Police mentioned that traces of the drug have been present in each Marx’s grandson and granddaughter.
A social employee from the Division of Human Companies performed a welfare verify final 12 months after receiving a tip about abuse, in line with native experiences.
The granddaughter texted a social employee, “she is mean to us, she is very abusive,” in line with OKCFOX.
The children have been instantly faraway from the house.
Officers transported the kids to a Protected Clinic, the place they have been examined and interviewed concerning the alleged abuse, in line with Regulation & Crime.
Medical doctors mentioned the granddaughter had bruising on her again that was in step with being overwhelmed with a belt, in line with the outlet.
The grandchildren mentioned that Marx bodily and emotionally abused them, together with forcing them to do calisthenic workout routines till their limbs gave out, the publication reported.
A neighbor approached authorities after the kids have been rescued and informed them that he had seen the siblings digging round in rubbish dumpsters trying to find meals, in line with experiences.
Warr Acres Assistant Police Chief Jason Allen mentioned Marx’s arrest got here in Could, after intensive interviews together with her grandchildren.
“The day we went out with them, there was enough to immediately remove the children, which is often not the case,” Allen mentioned.
Officers obtained a search warrant for the house and located marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a bottle of Alprazolam and a bottle of Seroquel, which have been each prescribed to Marx, in line with experiences.
“They did find a large dog cage in the residence,” Allen mentioned. “They also did locate Seroquel, which was also one of the allegations that Seroquel had been given to the children as well.”
Marx took custody of her grandchildren in 2022 after their father was gunned down in a street rage incident, in line with a GoFundMe submit.
