MARICOPA, Ariz. — Authorities say a woman in a city south of Phoenix is accused of abusing seven adopted children, including using pepper spray on them and locking them in a closet.

Machelle Hackney was booked into the Pinal County Jail on suspicion of two counts of molestation of a child, seven counts of child abuse and five counts each of unlawful imprisonment and child neglect.

It was unclear Tuesday if the 48-year-old Hackney had a lawyer yet.

According to a Maricopa police report, children in the house were left in a locked closet for days with no food, water or bathroom access.

When officers went to the house last week, they say six of the children appeared to be malnourished and underweight.

Maricopa is about 40 miles south of Phoenix.

Source: Read Full Article