MARDELA SPRINGS, Md. —Three children in a child abuse investigation on the Eastern Shore were beaten and forced at times to eat dog feces, Maryland State Police said Wednesday.

Police arrested two women Wednesday and charged them with multiple counts of child abuse involving children in their custody in Wicomico County.

Amanda R. Wright, 29, and Besline Joseph, 25, both of Mardela Springs, are charged with three counts each of first- and second-degree child abuse, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment, neglect of a minor, stalking, use of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, false imprisonment and one count each of causing ingestion of a bodily fluid, preventing/interfering with report of suspected child abuse or neglect, and conspiracy to commit first-degree child abuse.

Based on allegations reported to police, Child Protective Services officials removed three children ages, 8, 9 and 10, from the home Friday night when an investigation began.

Investigators said the children lived with Wright and her live-in girlfriend, Joseph. Investigators said the children were beaten multiple times by both suspects since at least May of last year. The beatings are believed to have been inflicted with hands, extension cords, belts, sticks, a stun gun and other objects, state police said. The children suffered bloody noses, bruises and cuts.

“They were also starved, being fed a diet of only bread and water and some oatmeal from time to time again. Investigators learned they were forced to eat dog feces on occasion,” said Maj. Greg Shipley of Maryland State Police.

Investigators said the children were reportedly locked in closets and a basement, and they were only allowed out for limited periods of time.

The children were said to have been threatened with death if they told anyone about the abuse, state police said.

Investigators found an electronic control device during a search of the house Wednesday. State police said they also found other evidence that supported information developed during the investigation.

Police would not say who gave them the tip, but that they received it Friday and the children removed from the home the same day.

“Child abuse is a tragedy and it is something that, unfortunately, can occur in any neighborhood. We’ve seen it recently in the national news. Now (we) see it in a community like this, in Salisbury — Mardela Springs — a very rural community in a quiet area, but it can happen anywhere” Shipley said.

Investigators are not giving out the relationship between the children and the women in order to protect the children’s identities.