Mother, Boyfriend Arrested In Rape Of Two Children

The Oklahoma City Police Department makes arrests after they say two children were sexually abused.

The girls’ mother, 39-year-old Joanna Cortez, was arrested for enabling child abuse. Police say her boyfriend, 33-year-old Johnny Samples, was arrested for lewd acts with a minor.

Officer Travis Vernier said the first victim they learned about was a 17-year-old girl with autism. The police report filed in March shows she was sexually assaulted by Samples for two years before the report was first filed.

Police say the grandmother took custody of the two children and noticed a “bad odor” coming from the 17-year-old’s private parts. She took her to Norman Regional and found out her granddaughter had a sexually transmitted disease, staph infection, and cigarette burns on her inner thigh.  

According to officials, she was raped multiple times by Samples and her mother was aware.

“She was coerced into essentially remaining silent,” said Vernier, “It’s truly disturbing and it’s just a heartbreaking case.”

Police investigated for months. In May 2016, another report was filed for her little sister, a 9-year-old girl.

“The 9-year-old girl had been forced to watch pornography. She had also been forced to watch as her mother engaged in sexual acts,” said Vernier.

The police report also shows she was raped multiple times by Samples. She was threatened if she told police. Furthermore, reports show she was beaten with an extension cord and forced to eat out of a trash can.

Officer Vernier says the two girls are now in the custody of their grandmother. He also says they are being offered counseling and will need time for both emotional and physical recovery.

Around 6:50 p.m., Mark Opgrande, PIO for Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office, said the girls' mother Joanna Cortez was found unresponsive in her cell Thursday afternoon. At this time, police believe she committed suicide.

The cause of death will be determined by the Oklahoma State Medical Examiner's Office. An investigation is underway.