(Editor’s note: While several details are being withheld, allegations in this story include claims of severe child abuse.)
An Elk City man and woman are both being held on $250,000 bonds in the Beckham County Detention Center after being charged with a series of child abuse charges.
The ages of both defendants were not listed.
Gasola Malelu was charged with soliciting a minor, first-degree rape, first-degree rape by instrumentation, child neglect, and maiming.
Naifoua Vaigafa was charged with enabling child sexual abuse, child neglect, child abuse, and maiming.
The investigation began on October 2 when an Elk City Police Department detective was requested at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
The detective met with a specialist from the Oklahoma Department of Human Services.
The report came when a mother, Vaigafa, allegedly had a newborn who tested positive for methamphetamine.
Vaigafa allegedly denied using the substance and “advised of a smoke-fog that filled her home four days before her delivery that caused her to vacate the home for a short period of time.”
Her “common law husband” was reportedly home with six other children.
He was identified as Malaelu.
Malaelu reportedly tested positive for methamphetamines.
“It was discovered the children had not attended public school or homeschooling for over three years, no running water in the home. Two children received homemade tattoos upon their bodies, and medical care was not received for years,” the detective wrote.
The detective also reportedly learned of sexual abuse that had allegedly occurred by Malaelu.
