An Oklahoma City grandmother is accused of abusing a 7-year-old girl by dressing as a witch, hanging the child in the garage and beating her with a whip.
Geneva Robinson, 49, reportedly took the child to a hospital, claiming she couldn't control the girl anymore. But hospital workers say they found signs of abuse. When they asked the girl about what happened, a bizarre story came out.
The girl told the staff that Robinson would put on a green mask and call herself Nelda, then "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," News9.com reported.
Robinson is also accused of beating the child with an orange and black whip, holding a "wand knife" to her neck and telling her that creatures in the attic would get her at night, the station said.
Neighbors aren't buying the story, and say Robinson is good to the four children in her care.
“If it wasn’t serious, it would be laughable,” neighbor Tracie Spillman told NewsChannel 4. “I can’t believe it. I just think that’s not true.”
“I don’t believe it at all," neighbor George Finley told the station. "She’s too nice and takes care of those kids."
However, police say they found evidence to back up the accusations. The child had bruises and cuts, including cuts around the ankles that were infected, and appeared "malnourished and very thin,” News9.com said. Authorities also found a witch costume, dog leashes and a whip at the home.
“The evidence at the scene corroborated what she was saying,” MSgt. Gary Knight of the Oklahoma City Police Department told NewsChannel 4. “There were whips and chains and a witch’s hat found there. Just a completely horrible situation for a child to be in.”
One of the other children living in the house told officials Robinson cut his finger with scissors and even threatened to cut it off, the Oklahoman reported. Another child said the 7-year-old girl was made to eat different food and eat in the garage.
All four children in Robinson's care have been taken into protective custody. Robinson was arrested on Tuesday, charged with child abuse and released.
(h/t New York Daily News)
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