A grandmother who had custody of her two young grandchildren is facing charges after she was accused of physically and emotionally abusing them in multiple ways.
In 2022, a 32-year-old man with two children was shot and killed. According to reports, the youngsters’ mother was unable to properly care for them, so they went to live with their paternal grandmother at her apartment in Warr Acres, Oklahoma. While some of the neighbors reported that the kids appeared happy, someone notified the authorities last March and told them they suspected they were being abused.
A social worker from the Oklahoma Department of Health and Human Services (DHS), accompanied by law enforcement from the Warr Acres Police Department, visited the residence to conduct an investigation. The 8-year-old girl reportedly told the social worker that their grandmother regularly abuses her and her 10-year-old brother, and that the woman both uses and sells narcotics. The child added that she locks them in a cage when she goes out, and it was reported that the boy said the woman gives him pills beforehand. The youngsters said they are hit with a belt, and have their toes stepped on and crushed.
The children were taken to a Safe Clinic for assessment and any necessary treatment. Tests reportedly revealed that the boy had Seroquel in his bloodstream, and there were marks on the girl’s back that looked like they were caused by a belt.
The woman was taken into custody and booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center. She is facing preliminary charges of four counts of child abuse and one count of child neglect. She was held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
The children are currently in the care of relatives.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a domestic violence offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.