Warr Acres woman charged after allegedly drugging grandchildren, locking them in dog cage for hours
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WARR ACRES, Okla. (KFOR) — A year-long investigation has led to the arrest of 53-year-old Davena Marx, after police say she drugged her grandchildren and locked them in a dog cage.
Marx has been charged with four counts of Child Abuse and one count of Child Neglect.
Warr Acres Assistant Police Chief Jason Allen said Marx's arrest came later, due to forensic interviews with the children and gathering evidence with the District Attorney's Office.
"The day we went out with them, there was enough to immediately remove the children, which is often not the case," Asst. Chief Allen said.
"They did find a large dog cage in the residence, and they also did locate Seroquel, which was also one of the allegations that Seroquel had been given to the children as well," he added.
In court documents, Marx's two grandchildren, both under 10 years old, detail the horrific abuse to DHS Investigators.
One of the children said Marx would step on their feet and grind her heels into their toes, also hitting them with belts that would leave bruises covering their bodies.
The child also said, "Memaw sells drugs and uses them; she makes us stay in the dog cage when she wants to go outside by herself."
"The children did test positive for Seroquel, so she was definitely giving them this," Asst. Chief Allen said.
A neighbor also told officers she noticed the children with black eyes and eating out of the dumpster. She also heard Marx cursing at them and calling them worthless.
The abuse took place at a Warr Acres apartment complex near N. MacArthur.
Neighbors in the complex were stunned when they heard about the abuse.
"It's crazy, it's crazy, and something should be done to her," said Kenneth Greer.
Greer also said, "It's sad and sickening, that someone would do this to kids, locking them up in a cage, giving them drugs, beating them and everything, that's crazy."
News 4 learned that the children's father was killed in a road rage incident. The mother's whereabouts are unknown.
However, officers say the children are now with other family members.
Marx is in the Oklahoma County Jail on a $50,000 bond.