Two lawmakers in Alabama are pushing to make child rape cases eligible for the death penalty, after a gang of seven were arrested in a horrific sexual abuse case.
Police in Bibb County said the group subjected their victims, one of whom was just three years old at the time, to heinous sexual attacks inside a nightmarish underground bunker.
William Chase McElroy, 21; Dalton Terrell, 21; Timothy St. John, 23; and Ricky Terrell, 44, are facing rape charges for allegedly sexually abusing small children.
Three others – Andres Trejo-Velazquez, 29; Rebecca Brewer, 29; and Sara Louis Terrell, 41 – were also arrested in connection to the crimes.
Rep. Matt Simpson and state Senator April Weaver are organizing a bill that would make those convicted of rape or sodomy of a child younger than 12 eligible for the death penalty.
Speaking earlier this week, Rep. Simpson said: ‘When you have situations like what happened in Bibb County, that would be up to the Bibb County prosecutor.
‘But this would be a tool that they would have in their belt that they could if they decided to use that.’
Weaver added: ‘I defy anyone anywhere with any conscience or any sense of morals to look at this case and others like it and argue the death penalty is not appropriate.’
Police in Bibb County said the group subjected their victims, one who was just 3 at the time, to heinous sexual attacks inside a nightmarish underground bunker, seen here
Rep. Matt Simpson, left, and state Senator April Weaver are organizing a bill that would make those convicted of rape or sodomy of a child younger than 12 eligible for the death penalty
The victims in the case, aged between three and 15, were abused with shock collars and raped inside the grimy storm bunker in Brent.
At least two of the victims were found performing sexual acts on each other, with some of the victims said to include some of the suspects’ own children.
Images shared by police of the inside show a lone stained mattress with no sheets or blankets was seen stuffed in a corner of the barren and dirty room.
The outside of the bunker, which was located near a family member of McElroy, didn’t look any better in repair with a shabby roof and a desolate appearance.
The suspects would allegedly arrange and pay for the children and abuse them inside the storm bunker.
The group also allegedly used a shock collar as a form of punishment, court documents said.
Police began investigating the group in early February after a tip from the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR).
After they were discovered, the children allegedly told investigators that McElroy had abused them, taught them sexual acts and what they did to each other.
The inside of the bunker where the deplorable acts took place, according to prosecutors
William Chase McElroy, 21, (left) and Timothy St. John, 23, (right) face rape charges, among others
Ricky Terrell, 44, (left) and Dalton Terrell, 21, (right) also face rape charges, among others
Andres Trejo-Velazquez was charged with human trafficking. His citizenship is also being investigated. And at least one member of the group has been connected to a Mexican gang known for using sex trafficking as its main source of income
Sara Louis Terrell, 41, (left) and Rebecca Brewer, 29, (right) were also arrested. Sara was charged with sexual torture and sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old. Brewer was charged with human trafficking, kidnapping, and sexual torture
‘He would tie one child to the bed, one child to a chair and one to one of the support poles,’ Assistant District Attorney Bryan Jones said of Velazquez-Trejo, whose citizenship is now being investigated.
Velazquez-Trejo has also been accused of using a white powder in the children’s drinks to drug them. He also allegedly sold nude images of the children.
‘As bad as it sounds with [Velazquez-Trejo] drugging them, it may be a blessing in disguise because they don’t remember a lot of things,’ Jones said.
The group also sold the children for up to $1,000 a night to abusers. Dalton paid at least two adults to use the children, who are now three, six, eight, and 10.
And at least one of the seven has been connected to a Mexican gang that uses sex trafficking as its main source of income. St. John has also been accused of having sex with a dog.
All the children are now in the custody of DHR. And authorities are still investigating how many children were abused.
McElroy was charged with rape, sodomy, and human trafficking. Dalton was charged with rape, sodomy, human trafficking, and kidnapping.
St. John was charged rape, sodomy, human trafficking, kidnapping, bestiality, and cruelty to animals.
Trejo-Velazquez was charged with human trafficking. Brewer was charged with human trafficking, kidnapping, and sexual torture.
Ricky was charged with rape. Sara was charged with sexual torture and sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old. They are expected back in court for their arraignment in August.
