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.
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"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
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Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 7 arrested in Alabama in alleged child sex trafficking ring: police
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