Cops: Okla. grandma dressed up like witch, abused child
OKLAHOMA CITY -- A young Oklahoma girl who authorities said was severely abused reportedly told police that her grandmother would dress up a like a witch before torturing her.
CBS affiliate KWTV reports that 49-year-old Geneva Robinson took the child to a hospital "to be admitted," because "she could not control her anymore." KTUL reports the girl is Robinson's 7-year-old granddaughter. The girl lived with the woman and three other children between the ages of five and eight at an Oklahama City home, reported KWTV.
According to KWTV, police said the girl was "malnourished and very thin," her armpits were bruised and cut, and her face had scratches and whelps. They also reportedly said the back of her neck was scarred, she had whelps and bruising along her jawline, and skin was coming off of her infected ankles.
The girl told officials her grandmother "would dress up as a witch, wearing a green mask, and would take her out to the garage, bind her up at night and make her sleep on a pair of jeans, because she was in trouble."
Police say they found evidence at the home to corroborate the girl's story.
The child told them "the witch's name was Nelda," and alleged her abuser would hang her underneath her arms by a pink dog leash in the garage. She said "Nelda" told her "the creatures in the attic were going to come and get her," and alleged the woman hit her with an orange and black whip, burned her and put a "wand knife" to her neck, reports the station.
Police who searched the home found a pink dog leash hanging with a black dog leash in the garage, attached to railings on the ceiling. They also reportedly found a horse whip, a dagger, a witch hat, a black wig and a "hooded cloak with red eyes costume."
They say the evidence backs of the version of events given to them by the child, reports the station.
All four children were reportedly taken into protective custody. Robinson was booked in the Oklahoma County jail on a count of child abuse, reports KTUL.