JAY, Okla. (AP) - An Oklahoma woman accused of failing to seek medical attention for two daughters is now facing accusations she kept another daughter in a dog cage.
The 46-year-old Jay woman has been charged with three counts of child abuse by injury, child endangerment and child neglect. She is being held in jail in leu of $100,000 bail, according to a story published Saturday in the Tulsa World (https://bit.ly/PE8Py5).
A juvenile court document obtained by the newspaper and signed by a Department of Human Services child welfare worker stated the woman’s 8-year-old daughter was repeatedly put in a black dog cage in the home and not allowed to come out as a form of punishment.
“This is one of the worst cases I have seen in my 31 years of law enforcement,” Delaware County Sheriff Harlan Moore said.
The child told DHS she was put in the cage when it was dark outside, according to the affidavit. Although the child could get out of the cage, the woman would threaten her with bodily harm if the girl attempted to, the court document stated.
Repeated telephone calls left for the woman’s attorney were not returned.
The woman and her estranged husband cared for nine children, ranging in age from 4 to 17. The children were placed in DHS emergency custody Wednesday.
According to the affidavit, the estranged husband knew the woman was placing the child into a dog cage as a form of punishment. He has not been charged, according to court records.
The court document said the 8-year-old has psychiatric needs that weren’t being met. The child had apparently killed several animals, including baby goats and cats, by drowning them or hanging them from trees.
Delaware County Deputy Frank Miller said the child has killed as many as 60 animals.
The couple was offered services to help with the problems, but they declined to participate, the court document said.
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Information from: Tulsa World, https://www.tulsaworld.com
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