A mother and her daughter are facing prosecution for incest after marrying each other in the American state of Oklahoma.
Police issued arrest warrants for Patricia Ann Spann, 43, and Misty Velvet Dawn Spann, 25, on Friday after discovering they married each other in March.
Local authorities uncovered the relationship last month during a child welfare investigation and later learned Patricia had also married her son in 2008.
He filed for an annulment 15 months later, citing “incest” and stating he was married to his birth mother, according to an affidavit.
Patricia said she had lost custody of three children, who were cared for by a grandparent, but reunited with her daughter two years ago.
The motivation behind her marriage to Misty remained unclear after an appearance at Stephens County district court on Wednesday.
She told officials she was unaware she was breaking any laws by marrying Misty because her name was not listed on her daughter’s birth certificate.
Both women were being held in Stephens County Jail in Duncan, Oklahoma.
Under state law, marrying a close relative is considered incest whether or not a sexual relationship exists.
Same-sex marriage has been legally recognised in Oklahoma since October 2014 after a lawsuit challenged a state-wide ban.
Additional reporting by AP
