In a shocking case unfolding in Bibb County, Alabama, ten children, some as young as two years old, were allegedly held captive in a storm bunker and subjected to sexual torture over a period spanning three years.
Authorities reported that the children were raped, tied to chairs, and tormented with shock collars, based on court documents.
What complicates the situation further is that some of the alleged perpetrators are reportedly the parents of the victims, creating a disturbing child sex trafficking ring.
Investigators revealed that six of the children were allegedly drugged before being transported to the underground bunker located in Brent, approximately 55 miles from Birmingham.
Photos released by Bibb County authorities showed the seemingly unassuming storm shelter that turned out to be the site of horrific abuse.
Inside, the bunker was sparsely furnished, containing only a dirty mattress, a chair, a fan, and a chest of drawers.
Court documents indicate that children were routinely tied to the bed before being sexually assaulted, as stated by Bryan Jones, an Assistant District Attorney in Bibb County.
The crime ring was highly lucrative, with perpetrators able to earn as much as $1,000 per night through their abhorrent activities.
Suspects engaged in “appointments” where they would sexually assault the minors, highlighting the organized nature of this horrific operation.
The investigation by Alabama police commenced in February following reports of suspected child abuse that led to a sweeping probe.
So far, seven individuals have been arrested, with some suspected of ties to gangs that profit from child sex crimes.
The charges faced by these suspects are severe, including allegations of human trafficking, rape, sodomy, and kidnapping.
One suspect, Timothy St. John, faces four charges of sodomy and human trafficking, and he is also accused of bestiality and cruelty to animals.
Another suspect, William McElroy, has been charged with four counts of first-degree rape and six counts of human trafficking, as well as sodomy.
Court documents reveal that McElroy admitted to raping at least one girl, raising further alarm about the scale of the abuse.
Dalton Terrell, arrested in April, faces six counts of first-degree rape and 12 counts of sodomy, having allegedly engaged in sexual acts with children aged three to 16 over the past year.
He reportedly confessed to law enforcement that he had sexual relations with a minor.
The exact locations of these alleged abuses, whether in the bunker or elsewhere, remain unclear at this point.
Andres Trejo-Velazquez, another individual implicated in this case, is accused of drugging the children and selling explicit images of them.
Authorities claim Trejo-Velazquez would restrain children to the bed and support poles inside the bunker, contributing to the torment they suffered.
There is also an ongoing investigation into his immigration status, raising additional layers of complexity to the case.
He faces six counts of first-degree human trafficking.
Interestingly, Terrell, Trejo-Velazquez, and McElroy all resided within a mile of each other in mobile homes, revealing a close-knit network of suspects.
Recently, three more individuals have been arrested in connection with the investigation, including Rebecca Brewer, who faces eight charges of human trafficking and three counts of sexual torture.
Additionally, Brewer is accused of first-degree kidnapping, while Sarah Terrell is charged with sexual torture and abuse, and Ricky Terrell faces first-degree rape charges.
Authorities believe there may be additional suspects and victims yet to come forward.
Bryan Jones noted, “I have a feeling as this story gets out, I feel like there are going to be more victims,” underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Under Alabama state law, anyone convicted of a crime against a child under six years old faces a minimum life sentence in prison.
Jody Wade, the Bibb County Sheriff, has affirmed that offenders will face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.
Meanwhile, the victims have been placed under the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
Jones described the nature of the abuse as “unimaginable,” stating, “It’s just unimaginable that someone could do this to a child.”
He added that children are defenseless and depend on adults for protection, making these actions all the more horrifying.
image source from：the-sun
