Latest news with #JodyWade
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Inside the Alabama Torture Bunker, Where Even Parents Are Accused of Abusing Kids
Seven people have been charged so far in connection with the crime operation, which appears to have begun in 2022 in Brent, about 50 miles southwest of BirminghamNEED TO KNOW At least 10 children in central Alabama were harmed in a harrowing child abuse case involving sex trafficking and torture, authorities said Some of the children's parents and relatives are among the suspects Two women and five men have been arrested with more arrests expected, according to authoritiesAt least 10 children in central Alabama were harmed in a harrowing child abuse case, in which they were sex trafficked — some of them by their own parents or other relatives — according to a local sheriff, who also said that that may have been why the abuse went undetected. Seven people have been charged so far in connection with the crime operation, which appears to have begun in 2022 in Brent, about 50 miles southwest of Birmingham, Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said. Most of the victims were between 3 and 10 years old, and one was 15, Wade said. The children are now in the custody of the state and are receiving medical and psychological support. The abuse occurred in a bunker, which was built as a storm shelter, Wade said. He said the suspects charged people to visit the bunker and abuse the children. Officials began investigating in February after state child welfare officials alerted Bibb County authorities to the possibility of sexual abuse occurring at a home near the bunker. Wade described the bunker as a concrete structure partially underground with a mattress and a toilet. 'I'm afraid there's going to be more victims and many more suspects,' Wade said at a recent news conference. Those charged include William McElroy, Dalton Terrell, Andres Trejo-Velazquez, Timothy St. John, Sara Terrell, Ricky Terrell and Rebecca Brewer. All but Ricky and Sara Terrell have been charged with human trafficking, while McElroy, Dalton Terrell, Trejo-Velazquez and St. John are also charged with rape, sodomy and kidnapping. St. John also faces charges of bestiality and aggravated cruelty to animals. Sara Terrell is charged with one count of sexual torture and two counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old. Brewer, the other woman who was arrested, is charged with eight counts each of human trafficking and kidnapping and three counts of sexual torture. The seven are in jail either because they were denied bond at a hearing or were stipulated not to receive one, Bryan Jones, assistant district attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, tells PEOPLE. Jones says he anticipates Brewer and both Ricky and Sara Terrell will face additional charges once their cases are presented to a grand jury. It was not immediately clear whether any of them had lawyers. "This is by far the worst case that I've ever had to deal with in terms of the the type of abuse, the length of the abuse, and the ages of the victims that were abused," Jones tells PEOPLE. Wade also said it was the worst child abuse case he'd seen in his 33-year career. "Some of the victims, the offenders were their parents and different relatives," Wade said. Related: Bunker of Hell: Men Allegedly Paid to Rape Small Children in Underground Enclosure for More Than a Year The district attorney's office declined to discuss the alleged relationships between the victims and the suspects to protect the identities of the children. According to the sheriff, the children were sometimes tied to a pole or bound to a bed or a chair in the bunker and were sometimes drugged to make them compliant. 'Sometimes, there would be multiple people that would come by and victimize these children on a nightly basis," he said. The operation is believed to have brought in up to $1,000 a night. "It's hard to fathom that you could do this to another human being, but what makes it even worse is they're children and their ages," Jones tells PEOPLE. "You're talking about one child that was still either in or just coming out of diapers. It's just unbelievable that somebody could do this to someone that is so small and so innocent." "It's hard to believe," he adds. Read the original article on People
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Washington Post
Children tortured and abused in sex trafficking ring in Alabama, police say
At least 10 children between the ages of 3 and 15 were held in an underground bunker in central Alabama and sexually exploited, tortured and trafficked, according to the local sheriff's department. Authorities have arrested seven individuals — including the parents and family members of the some of the victims — on several charges ranging from human trafficking, rape, sodomy, sexual torture and bestiality, Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said at a news conference Wednesday.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
7 arrested after 10 children found sexually abused in bunker of Alabama home: police
Seven people have been arrested in connection with an alleged child sex trafficking ring in Alabama, with victims as young as 3, police said. Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said during a press conference on July 23 that ten children were abused as part of an alleged trafficking ring run out of a home in Brent, about 50 miles southwest of Birmingham. The children are between 3 to 15 years old, but officials expect more victims and more arrests could be possible. USA TODAY reached out to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office on July 25. Wade also said officials are investigating whether the ring is connected to a gang whose main source of income is child sex trafficking. "I've been in law enforcement for 33 years and this is absolutely the most horrible thing I've ever seen when it comes to victimization of children," Wade said. "Like I say, I know God's forgiveness is boundless, but if there was a limit to it, I think we've reached it." Child sex trafficking ring was run out of storm shelter bunker, police say The alleged trafficking ring, which officials believe started around 2022, was run out of a storm shelter bunker in the yard of a home. The top of the bunker was covered by a carport, Wade said. The bunker "was a pretty good size to where you could actually live in there comfortably," and had a toilet and mattress, Wade said. The victims were sometimes tied to a pole or bed inside the bunker. Officials also believe drugs were involved, according to Wade. "I think it may have been something not necessarily a narcotic, more something like to make them more a little bit more drowsy and a little bit more compliant for the ones that were physically able to somewhat try to fight back and protect themselves," Wade said. 7 suspects arrested in child sex trafficking ring Seven suspects have been arrested so far in connection to the alleged trafficking ring, but more arrests could be possible as the investigation continues. Some of the suspects in custody are relatives of the victims, Wade said. Their names and charges include: William Chase McElroy: four counts of first-degree rape, six counts of first-degree sodomy, six counts of human trafficking, four counts of first-degree kidnapping Dalton Terrell: five counts of first-degree rape, seven counts of first-degree sodomy, six counts of human trafficking, four counts of first-degree kidnapping Andres Velazquez-Trejo: six counts of human trafficking Timothy St. John: two counts of first-degree rape, four counts of first-degree sodomy, four counts of human trafficking, three counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of bestiality, one count of aggravated cruelty to animals Rebecca Brewer: eight counts of human trafficking, eight counts of first-degree kidnapping, three counts of sexual torture Ricky Terrell: one count of first-degree rape Sarah Louise Terrell: one count of sexual torture, two counts of sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old 'You can't heal from this' Wade said police were tipped off to possible child abuse in February by the local Department of Human Resources. The victims have been removed from the home and are receiving support services including counseling, Wade said. "They'll carry this vividly for the rest of their lives," Wade said. "So, all we can do is the best we can by them to help them get past this. You can't heal from this, but you can move on as best you can." Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 7 arrested in connection to Alabama child sex trafficking ring: police
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
At least 10 children were sexually abused in Alabama bunker, cops say. 7 arrested
At least 10 children were trafficked for sex acts and held in an underground storm shelter in rural Alabama, a sheriff said. Seven people — including some of the children's parents and relatives — have been arrested on different charges, including sexual abuse, rape and child trafficking, Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said during a July 23 news conference, broadcast by WVTM. 'I know God's forgiveness is boundless, but if there is a limit, we reached it,' Bibb told WSAZ. A monthslong investigation, beginning in February, led to the arrest of three men, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office said in a July 19 Facebook post, McClatchy News reported. Four others were arrested after, the sheriff said during the news conference. McClatchy News is not identifying the suspects to protect the identity of the children. The investigation began after deputies were notified of potential child sexual abuse at a bunker in Brent, about a 50-mile drive southwest from Birmingham, the sheriff's office said. Some of the children — ranging from 3 to 15 years old — were abused by multiple people 'on a nightly basis,' Wade said, adding that each child is now in the custody of the Department of Human Resources. 'They are safe and being cared for and speaking with counselors,' Wade said. More arrests and victims are expected as the investigation continues, Wade said. Human trafficking in the US Human trafficking is a 'crime of exploitation,' according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Traffickers profit off their victims by forcing them to engage in sex acts or do labor. 'With an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide at any given time, human traffickers prey on people of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities, exploiting them for their own profit,' officials said. Industries where trafficking victims are forced to work include hospitality, restaurants, agriculture, construction, landscaping, factories, home care, salons, massage parlors, retail, janitorial and many more, officials said. In the U.S., children in welfare or juvenile justice systems, such as foster care, are the most vulnerable to human trafficking, officials said. Children and teens experiencing homelessness, people seeking asylum, people who struggle with substance abuse, migrant laborers, people who identify as part of the LGBTQ community and victims of domestic violence are also more vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking 'Traffickers can be strangers, acquaintances, or even family members, and they prey on the vulnerable and on those seeking opportunities to build for themselves a brighter future,' officials said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Inside the room where adults are accused of torturing kids with shock collars and forcing them into sex
Appalling photos have revealed the Alabama storm shelter where at least 10 children, some as young as 3 years old, were held captive and sexually tortured for years as part of a sex-trafficking ring organized by some of their own relatives. Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said during a press conference Wednesday that 10 victims have been identified, but warned that both the number of victims and arrests would likely increase. "I've been in law enforcement for 33 years, and this is absolutely the most horrible thing I've ever seen when it comes to the victimization of children,' Wade said. 'I know God's forgiveness is boundless, but if there was a limit to it, I think we've reached it.' Seven suspects, including two mothers and several other relatives of the victims, have been arrested so far for their role in the alleged ring, authorities said. William Chase EcElroy, 21, Dalton Terrell, 21, Andres Velazquez-Trejo, 29, Timothy St. John, 23, Ricky Terrell, 44, Sara Louise Terrell, 41, and Rebecca Brewer, 29, all face an array of charges, ranging from rape and sodomy to kidnapping and human trafficking. A shocking photo shared by authorities revealed the squalid conditions inside the concrete bunker where the horrifying abuse transpired for years, with authorities saying they believe it began around 2022. Inside the cold, concrete shelter was little furniture, consisting of just an old, dingy bed, several chairs and other small pieces of furniture. Throughout the abuse, the children would allegedly be tied up, often to the limited pieces of furniture, and forced to perform sexual acts, Bibb County Assistant District Attorney Bryan Jones said. The children were also allegedly drugged by Velazquez-Trejo, who put some kind of white powder into their drinks that would make them drowsy, authorities said. 'It's hard to hear their stories and it's hard to see pictures of this bunker where, according to some of the witnesses, they were drugged,' Jones said. 'As bad as it sounds with (Velazques-Trejo) drugging them, it may be a blessing in disguise because they don't remember a lot of things,' Jones said. 'I'm hopeful that they won't have near the trauma they would have had if they had not been drugged.' One of the mothers reportedly involved in the abuse, Sara Louise Terrell, would allegedly put animal shock collars on the victims, which the suspects would also use on the children's genitals, according to The New York Post. The investigation into the abuse began earlier this year on Feb. 4, when authorities were called to the shelter and found two of the victims performing sexual acts on each other, Jones said. The victims told authorities they were performing what McElroy had done to them or taught them to do, Jones said. Authorities allege the children, who were between the ages of 3 and 16, were forced to endure vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse and oral sex. Records obtained by also showed that one of the suspects allegedly 'sold' children 'to various clientele for sexual pleasure.' Each suspect reportedly had a specific role in the alleged ring. Authorities believe their investigation will yield more victims and even more suspects. Jones said there are allegations of up to another 12 men who may have paid to have sex with the children. 'We have no way of identifying these people unless somebody in the community comes forward and says this person told us they did this,' Jones said. 'The children wouldn't know who they are,' he said, referring to the victims being drugged. The victims included Sara Louise Terrell's children and Velazquez-Trejo and Brewer's children, authorities said. It was not immediately clear how many children from each suspect was involved in the abuse. Authorities said all three Terrells charged are related to each other, though it was not immediately clear how. Wade said that 'there's no telling' how many additional victims they may find, noting it seemed as though what they'd uncovered was 'just the tip of the iceberg.' Bibb County officials are investigating alongside the Department of Homeland Security. Authorities are also probing the suspects' potential affiliations with the Mexican gang Seranos, which largely makes money through child sex trafficking. The victims are all in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources. The suspects, who all lived in mobile homes within a mile of each other in the small town of Brent, will be arraigned in August. The investigation is ongoing.
