An Oklahoma grandmother is facing serious allegations of child abuse. Davena Marx became the guardian of her two grandchildren after their father was killed. And according to the children, life with grandma was a scary one. They’ve detailed the ways she allegedly abused them, which included locking them in a dog cage and giving them drugs.
Neighbors in the town of Warr Acres confirmed the claims of abuse, sharing their observations. Even though the children were removed from the home quickly, it took time to mount a case against Marx.
KOKH reported that according to an affidavit, Davena Marx took custody of her grandchildren in November 2021. At the time, the children were 6 and 8 years old. They were in her custody for a little over two years before the abuse allegations came to light.
The Oklahoma Department of Human Services performed a welfare check at her home after receiving a report of child abuse on March 13, 2024. Inside the home, they reportedly found a large cage and a camera on a bedside table. They accused Marx of locking the children in the cage when she left the house. She also allegedly beat them with a belt and stepped on their toes.
Citing court documents, multiple sources stated that one of Marx’s grandchildren texted a DHS worker during the visit. “SHE IS MEAN TO US SHE IS VERY ABUSIVE,” the text read.
They also told authorities that “Memaw sells drugs and uses them.” One of the children told authorities that she gave them Seroquel, a drug they weren’t prescribed.
“The day we went out with them, there was enough to immediately remove the children, which is often not the case,” Warr Acres Assistant Police Chief Jason Allen, said per KFOR. “The children did test positive for Seroquel, so she was definitely giving them this,” he added.
Neighbors spoke with police, with one telling them she’d bought Xanax from Marx in the past. She also shared that she’d observed the children eating out of a dumpster. A neighbor also said she’d heard the woman call the children “worthless” and “little bastards.” She said she’d observed them being locked in the dog cage. Neighbors told News 9 that the kids bore the brunt of Marx’s anger.
“Lots of cursing, lots of screaming, and degrading them,” they said.
According to documents obtained by People, the state made formal charges against Davena Marx. She was charged with four counts of child abuse, for allegedly hitting, locking them in the dog cage, and drugging them, as well as making them “jump up and down for an extended period of time as a form of punishment.”
She was also charged with one count of child neglect for “failing to protect from exposure of illegal activity.”
If you suspect child abuse, you can call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4-A-Child) or go to Childhelp.org. The hotline is available 24/7.
