WARR ACRES, OK — A 53-year-old Oklahoma woman is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly drugging her grandchildren and locking them in a dog cage while she left the house, according to police and court records.
Davena Dian Marx, of Warr Acres, was arrested and charged with child abuse and child neglect after a months-long investigation by the Warr Acres Police Department and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS). Authorities say the alleged abuse occurred in early 2024.
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This Article Includes
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- 1 Tip Sparks Welfare Check
- 2 Medical Exams Confirm Abuse
- 3 Reports of Physical, Emotional Abuse
- 4 Family Tragedy and Custody
- 5 Current Status
Tip Sparks Welfare Check
Police first became involved in March 2024, when a tip led officers and a DHS social worker to Marx’s home. Shortly after their arrival, one of the children, an 8-year-old girl, sent a text message to the social worker stating, “She is mean to us, she is very abusive.”
The children were quickly removed from the home for their safety. During interviews, the girl told investigators, “Memaw sells drugs and uses them,” and claimed Marx would lock them in a dog cage “when she wanted to go outside by herself.”
Medical Exams Confirm Abuse
The children were taken to a Safe Clinic, where they underwent forensic interviews and medical evaluations. Doctors found bruises on the girl’s back that were consistent with being whipped with a belt, authorities said.
Marx’s 10-year-old grandson also alleged that she had given him prescription medications not meant for him. Though Marx denied this, police say the child tested positive for Seroquel, a powerful antipsychotic drug prescribed to Marx, which can have sedative effects and is not intended for children.
Reports of Physical, Emotional Abuse
In interviews, the children described repeated physical punishments, including being forced to do intense exercises until they collapsed. Neighbors also provided statements to police, claiming they witnessed ongoing mistreatment.
According to the reports, Marx allegedly verbally abused the children, referring to them as “worthless” and “little bastards.” Some neighbors claimed to have seen the children scavenging for food in dumpsters and crying while locked in a dog cage designed for a large pet.
Family Tragedy and Custody
Investigators say Marx gained custody of the children after the death of her son, Devyn Wayne Hinkle, in 2022. Hinkle was killed in a road rage shooting in Oklahoma City on Nov. 25, 2022, after being shot while driving near Northwest 10th Street and Meridian Avenue.
The shooter, Kasey McConville, was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder. In 2024, McConville pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 20-year prison sentence, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Current Status
Marx was taken into custody in May 2025. She is currently awaiting trial. The children remain in protective custody, and authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the alleged abuse.
Police praised the young girl’s bravery in reaching out for help, saying it likely saved her and her sibling from further harm.
