Del City police rescue intellectually disabled woman from alleged months-long torture and abuse

A call to police uncovered months-long, alleged caretaker abuse and torture inside a Del City home. Police arrested three people last week after a 29-year-old intellectually disabled woman was found badly beaten and in need of immediate medical attention.

The victim was brought to Saint Anthony Hospital in downtown Oklahoma City. Del City police said the victim had a skull fracture, two broken arms, a possible broken rib, and bed sores that caused sepsis.

Neighbors told News 9 they had no idea an adult was allegedly being tortured and abused inside a home near southeast 29th and Sunnylane Road.

“It’s devastating,” said Danielle Gregg, neighbor. “Because I’ve had interactions with them quite a few times.”

Danielle Gregg said police showed up to the home last Wednesday night and the investigation continued well into the next day. A six-page affidavit revealed the details of the police investigation. Police said an intellectually disabled woman was living with Jennifer Wendt, Gary Churchill, and Jack Pearson.

“They’ve been the bad people of the neighborhood,” said Jaime Klinert, neighbor. “So not really shocked but shocked. I don’t know how to explain it.”

The victim told police she was confined to her bed and chained there for days. In the arrest affidavit, police described injuries and sores covering the victim's body and noted her feet were infected and all her toenails were missing. The victim named Wendt as the primary abuser.

Investigators determined the victim experienced prolonged, torturous physical abuse. Besides that, police said the home was covered in animal feces, along with more than a dozen neglected animals.

“The smell that came out of it was like rotten flesh,” said Klinert. “It was a very horrible smell; I’ve never smelled before.”

Jamie Klinert and others expressed relief that police stepped in to rescue the victim and animals.

“It’s just heartbreaking, yeah,” said Gregg.

All three people arrested remain in custody at the Oklahoma County Detention Center. Wendt is being held on a $500,000 bond and faces charges of aggravated assault, kidnapping, abuse, maiming, and animal cruelty. The men face accessory to felony charges for not reporting the abuse.