Bibb County Authorities Detail Horror at Bunker Where Children Were Trafficked

Authorities in Bibb County shared horrifying details of their sprawling investigation into a child sex abuse ring that allegedly operated for years in a storm shelter in Brent, a town about 35 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa.

The specifics are a nightmare. The investigation reportedly began in February of this year, when police first became aware of the potential of "the sexual abuse of children in an underground bunker located in Brent."

So far, seven people have been arrested - beginning with William Chase McElroy, Dalton Terrell, Andres Velazquez-Trejo, and Timothy St. John - and police say additional arrests are expected. Charges include human trafficking, rape, sodomy, and kidnapping. Three additional people have also been charged - Sara Louise Terrell, Rickey Cecil Terrell and Rebecca Cecile Brewer.

"It is an ongoing investigation and I know it has been frustrating for a lot of people in the media that we haven't come forward with a lot of information, but with the hours that's been put in and the urgency of getting these people before they fled, and trying to turn them and not giving it a lot of attention so they wouldn't scatter like rats," Sheriff Jody Wade said. "Now we're to the point where we've got to uncover the possibility of more suspects and more victims, but we've got the ones who are confirmed in custody and charged."

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Wade led a press conference on Wednesday to discuss the case, which he said started after a tip from DHR about the potential of child abuse.

"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 reached it."

Wade said men kept children in a storm shelter underground, sometimes bound, and sold them out to pedophiles for sexual abuse. The bunker was built adjacent to a residence, under a concrete pad with a carport over it, and was not easily distinguishable.

"Sometimes the children would be there tied to a pole that was there, bound to a bed that was there or in a chair that was there. Sometimes there would be multiple people that would come by and victimize these children on a nightly basis," Wade said. "I understand that sometimes [the traffickers] could make up to $1,000 a night."

Victims range in age from just 3 years old to 15.

Wade said children were sedated with some kind of drug that may have limited their memories and made them less resistant to the abuse. All victims are receiving support from agencies including DHR.

"For the younger kids, I'm hoping this is a blurry memory because some of the statements of children, they were unable to remember certain things and then things would come to mind," Wade said. "But some of the older children, they'll carry this vividly for the rest of their lives. All we can, to best we can, is stand by them to help them to help them get past this. You can't heal from this but you can move on the best you can."

Wade said this regular abuse has potentially been taking place since 2022.

Christopher Poole, a veteran investigator at the sheriff's office, called the case heartbreaking.

"My only message to all of the victims - know we are fighting for you all," he said. "The voice - we're going to help you find it, and we're going to put everybody who has done any wrong to any child in this county away."

For more coverage of this case and other crime & court news in west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.