Latest news with #RebeccaBrewer
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Court outburst of shame-faced Alabama woman 'who ran child sex ring from underground bunker'
One of the twisted women accused of running a child sex ring from a horrific underground bunker had a shocking outburst in court, insisting that she 'loves' the alleged victims. Rebecca Brewer, 29, Sara Terrell, 41, and her husband Ricky Terrell, 44, were seen making their way to court Thursday after they were arrested - along with four others - for subjecting children to horrific sexual abuse in Alabama, police alleged. The gang of adults has been accused of abusing the young victims, aged three to 15, with horrific torture methods including shock collars to the genitals and rape. The crimes allegedly took place inside a grimy, nightmarish storm bunker in Brent - a little more than hour outside of Montgomery. While walking into court, Brewer, who donned a neon green prison outfit and covered her face with her shackled hands, stated: 'I didn't do this. I love my babies,' ABC 33/40 reported. The seven men and women are said to have forced the victims, including some of their own children, to participate in vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse and oral sex. The suspects would allegedly arrange and pay for the children and abuse them inside the bunker. Along with Brewer, Sara was seen trying to shield her face before all three of them decided to remain in custody following their bond hearing. Ricky was overheard telling his attorney: 'I've never touched a kid' before he asked an officer if he could hug his wife - a request that was denied. So far, the investigation has identified 10 victims, most of whom are under the age of 10. Along with Brewer and the Terrells, William McElroy, 21; Dalton Terrell, 21; Timothy St. John, 23; and Andres Trejo-Velazquez, 29, were arrested in connection to the heinous crimes. Inside the bunker, a lone stained mattress with no sheets or blankets was seen stuffed in a corner of the barren and dirty room. A metal chair was placed beside the bed, alongside a standing fan. The only other items in the room were another chair, a small set of drawers with an old-looking convection oven with a built-in coffee spot on top and uncovered lightbulbs. The outside of the bunker, which was located near a family member of McElroy, didn't look to be in any better repair with a shabby roof, stained siding, and a desolate appearance. The group also allegedly used a shock collar on the children's genitals as a form of punishment and for sexual pleasure, court documents said. Police began investigating the group in early February after a tip from the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) 'following concerns regarding the sexual abuse of children in an underground bunker located in Brent.' 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, Assistant District Attorney Bryan Jones said. At least two of the victims were found performing sexual acts on each other, according to 'He would tie one child to the bed, one child to a chair and one to one of the support poles,' 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 minors. '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. 'I'm hopeful though that they won't have near the trauma they would have had if they had not been drugged.' 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. 'We are going to do everything we can to make sure justice is needed out in this case,' District Attorney Robert Turner told the outlet. 'Whenever you have cases that involve children victims or child victims it shocks people to the core.' Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade, who said 'this is absolutely the most horrible thing' he's seen in his 33 years in law enforcement, said the affected children are currently getting all the help they need. 'They're getting the medical help they need, the emotional, psychological help we can best provide them. For the younger kids, I'm hoping some of this is a blurry memory,' Wade said. 'You can't heal from this, but you can move on as best you can.' McElroy was charged with rape, sodomy, and human trafficking. 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 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 while his wife Sara was charged with sexual torture and sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old. Brewer, Ricky and Sara are due back in court on August 21 for a preliminary hearing. The others are expected in court in August as well for their arraignment.
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.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Boone County Democrats make more endorsements in April 8 election
The Boone County Democrats have made further endorsements for the April 8 election. Jacque Sample, who is running unopposed for the Columbia Ward 3 council seat, received the nod, along with Rebecca Brewer for the Hallsville school board. The county Democrats noted Sample has experience in the realm of of politics thanks to past attempts at running for state office for the Missouri House District 44 seat. She is chair of the Columbia Disabilities Commission and a doctor of occupational therapy. Brewer is an active member of the community, county Democrats said, noting her decades long background in occupational safety and health, who is focused on promoting "a safe, supportive and high quality education for all students, which includes a focus on attracting and retaining the best staff for the district." This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Boone County Democrats make new endorsements in April election
BBC News
16-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Enclosure for endangered Visayan pigs opens at Durrell Trust
A brand new home for critically-endangered pigs has opened to the public at Jersey Conservation Wildlife Trust said the new pig house for its four Visayan warty pigs opened on Valentines said the pigs, which were once thought to be extinct, were still "one of the most threatened mammals on earth".Rebecca Brewer, from the trust, said the new home will let visitors see the species up close. She said: "After a two-month settling in period we are delighted to be able to welcome visitors to see Tré, Diosa, Babs and Penelope in their new home."This new house gives the pigs more outdoor space to roam, as well as providing more opportunity for our visitors to get up close with the species."The Zoo also reopened its sloth enclosure following the birth of a two-toed sloth last month.
