WARR ACRES, OK - A grandmother accused of drugging and locking her two young grandchildren in a dog cage while she went out to run errands has been charged with child abuse and neglect.
Authorities with the Warr Acres Police Department (WAPD) arrested 53-year-old Davena Marx following a lengthy investigation that began in 2024, NEWS9 reported. The children, who were eight and 10 at the time of the alleged incident, were placed into state custody. In March 2024, a Department of Health Services (DHS) caseworker and police went to Marx's apartment to investigate a tip of child abuse.
Once inside the home, one of Marx's grandchildren texted the social worker, "SHE IS MEAN TO US SHE IS VERY ABUSIVE."
Then, once outside and away from Marx, her grandchild told the social worker and police that the grandmother sells and uses drugs. "Memaw sells drugs and uses them. She makes us stay in the dog cage when she wants to go outside by herself," the child alleged.
The child's sibling claimed that his "Memaw gave him drugs he wasn't prescribed." Neighbors who did not want to be identified said that despite the seriousness of the allegations against Marx, she remained hopeful that she would once again have custody of them. "She was moving to a house to try and get them back," the neighbor said.
"When officers arrived, the children, that night, were taken away from the home." Assistant Police Chief Jason Allen said. Officers later returned to the apartment with a search warrant. Before police began their search, bodycam video captured Marx opening her door and removing her pets from the apartment. An initial search by police uncovered a large dog crate and medication described by the children.
"One of the children was found to have been given Seroquel by their grandmother, and both children were found to have been kept in a dog cage at different points in time," Allen said. Seroquel, an antipsychotic, was prescribed to Marx. The medication induces drowsiness. A doctor observed bruises on the back of Marx's granddaughter "consistent with being hit with a belt."
Marx denied abusing or drugging her grandchildren, but a blood test revealed one of the children tested positive for the medication prescribed to his grandmother.
The children also alleged that their grandmother forced them to do jumping jacks until their legs and arms gave out. A neighbor told police that she overheard Marx call the children "worthless little (expletive)."
The neighbor also claimed she heard the children crying and observed them locked in a dog cage.
Neighbors said that they often bore the brunt of Marx's frustration and anger towards the children. "Lots of cursing, lots of screaming, and degrading them," neighbors said. Another neighbor told police the children often had black eyes and were seen looking through the dumpster for food.
After the children's father, Devyn Wayne Hinkle, Marx's son, was murdered in a road rage shooting in 2022, neighbors said Marx was granted custody, KFOR reported. Hinkle, who was 31 years old at the time, was driving a red pickup truck when he was gunned down by Kasey McConville. Authorities found him lying in the street next to his truck. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"She said she got them from their mom, and when they were with their mom, they were in a bad environment," said neighbors.
Authorities with the Warr Acres Police Department (WAPD) arrested 53-year-old Davena Marx following a lengthy investigation that began in 2024, NEWS9 reported. The children, who were eight and 10 at the time of the alleged incident, were placed into state custody. In March 2024, a Department of Health Services (DHS) caseworker and police went to Marx's apartment to investigate a tip of child abuse.
Once inside the home, one of Marx's grandchildren texted the social worker, "SHE IS MEAN TO US SHE IS VERY ABUSIVE."
Then, once outside and away from Marx, her grandchild told the social worker and police that the grandmother sells and uses drugs. "Memaw sells drugs and uses them. She makes us stay in the dog cage when she wants to go outside by herself," the child alleged.
The child's sibling claimed that his "Memaw gave him drugs he wasn't prescribed." Neighbors who did not want to be identified said that despite the seriousness of the allegations against Marx, she remained hopeful that she would once again have custody of them. "She was moving to a house to try and get them back," the neighbor said.
"When officers arrived, the children, that night, were taken away from the home." Assistant Police Chief Jason Allen said. Officers later returned to the apartment with a search warrant. Before police began their search, bodycam video captured Marx opening her door and removing her pets from the apartment. An initial search by police uncovered a large dog crate and medication described by the children.
"One of the children was found to have been given Seroquel by their grandmother, and both children were found to have been kept in a dog cage at different points in time," Allen said. Seroquel, an antipsychotic, was prescribed to Marx. The medication induces drowsiness. A doctor observed bruises on the back of Marx's granddaughter "consistent with being hit with a belt."
Marx denied abusing or drugging her grandchildren, but a blood test revealed one of the children tested positive for the medication prescribed to his grandmother.
The children also alleged that their grandmother forced them to do jumping jacks until their legs and arms gave out. A neighbor told police that she overheard Marx call the children "worthless little (expletive)."
The neighbor also claimed she heard the children crying and observed them locked in a dog cage.
Neighbors said that they often bore the brunt of Marx's frustration and anger towards the children. "Lots of cursing, lots of screaming, and degrading them," neighbors said. Another neighbor told police the children often had black eyes and were seen looking through the dumpster for food.
After the children's father, Devyn Wayne Hinkle, Marx's son, was murdered in a road rage shooting in 2022, neighbors said Marx was granted custody, KFOR reported. Hinkle, who was 31 years old at the time, was driving a red pickup truck when he was gunned down by Kasey McConville. Authorities found him lying in the street next to his truck. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
"She said she got them from their mom, and when they were with their mom, they were in a bad environment," said neighbors.
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