An Oklahoma woman has been sentenced to three consecutive life sentences for her role in a gruesome child abuse case.
Prosecutors say Geneva S. Robinson, 51, dressed up as a witch – complete with mask, long black coat, and green makeup – to inflict physical and emotional abuse on her seven-year-old granddaughter, as captured in a disturbing cellphone video.
“What she did was horrific and what she did will forever impact this child and her siblings,” assistant district attorney Merydith Easter said during sentencing on April 13.
“She deserves the same amount of mercy that she showed this child, and that’s none.”
The three-minute video shows Robinson in costume as “Nelda the Witch” screaming at the little girl.
“I won’t hit grandma! I won’t be mean!” the little girl pleads with “Nelda,” to which she replies “You lie! You lie! You lie, little girl!”
A man, identified in court as Joshua Granger, is also seen participating in the “Nelda” narrative, suggesting to the child that the witch was a form of punishment for bad behaviour.
“Grandma’s sick because of you! Go with the witch!” Granger can be heard telling the child.
“I won’t hit grandma! I won’t be mean!” the child can also be heard shouting.
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The disturbing video is just part of what prosecutors allege was a pattern of physical and emotional abuse.
In February, Robinson pleaded guilty to five counts of felony child abuse. Among other abuses, Robinson admitted to scratching the girl’s neck, striking her face, hitting her hand with a rolling pin and cutting her hair while she slept, according to court records.
The little girl also told police that “Nelda” would take her to the garage, where she would be restrained with a dog leash and subjected to physical abuse.
“The evidence at the scene corroborated what she was saying,” Sgt. Gary Knight of Oklahoma City Police Department told KFOR News.
“There were whips and chains and a witch’s hat found there. Just a completely horrible situation for a child to be in.”
The case first came to light in September 2014, when Robinson took the child to hospital claiming she was having difficulty controlling her, according to a police affidavit.
When she was discovered to be extremely malnourished and showed signs of physical abuse, Robinson was taken into custody.
During the trial, prosecutors said Robinson had been caring for the child and her siblings after their parents split up.
Tanya Jones, Robinson’s defense attorney, said Robinson lacked resources to control the child.
“She understands she went too far,” Jones said.
Robinson said she is getting treatment and taking medication for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
Joshua Granger was also sentenced to life in prison for his role in the abuse, with a minimum time of 30 years behind bars.
–With files from the Associated Press