1/15/2022- 8:48 p.m.
A couple has now been charged in federal court, accused of beating, handcuffing and starving a 9 year old girl.
Joel and Amanda Smith are charged with child abuse and neglect.
They had previously been charged in Mayes County but the case was dismissed in May, 2021 since the victim is Native American and the crime happened on tribal land.
So, the case was filed in federal court last month.
At the time, investigators say the girl had a cut on her ankle and said a handcuff was placed on her ankle at night, so she wouldn’t get up.
She reported she was only fed 1 or twice a day and often snuck food from the trash or from the animals because she was hungry.
She reported she was made to work outdoors in all kinds of weather.
She also said they didn’t let her use the restroom and only gave her 1-2 diapers a day.
Deputies told us Joel Smith was the girl’s biological uncle and he and his wife were the girl’s guardians.
