Alabamians are devastated and in shock over the recent discovery of a hidden bunker in Bibb County used to house horrendous sex abuse crimes against children. In response, local residents are turning to faith and community for strength, gathering at multiple prayer vigils to support the victims.

The abuse reportedly began as early as 2022 but came to light on February 4, 2025, after the Alabama Department of Human Resources received a report of suspected child abuse.

When investigators from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home on Aaron Drive in Brent, they discovered a concealed underground storm shelter, disguised by a carport, that had been the site of repeated sexual assaults. By July 25, seven individuals had been arrested in connection with the case.

RELATED: Horrific crimes revealed in Bibb County: Sheriff Wade details child sexual abuse bunker

“It just looks like a shed where you park cars, but when you go around back, it’s actually an underground storm cellar where all the incidents took place,” Sheriff Jody Wade said. “It was built for a good thing and used for a horrible thing.”

Inside the bunker, deputies found a dirty mattress, a chair, and other furniture. According to investigators, children ranging in age from 3 to 15 were allegedly drugged, tied to beds or poles, and assaulted by multiple individuals, sometimes on a nightly basis.

Seven suspects have been arrested: William Chase McElroy, Dalton Terrell, Andres Trejo-Velazquez, Timothy St. John, Rebecca Brewer, Ricky Terrell, and Sara Terrell. Charges include rape, sodomy, sexual abuse, sexual torture, human trafficking, kidnapping, and bestiality. Some suspects are related, while others are believed to have paid to access the victims.

“No child deserves this,” Wade said. “That’s the most horrible thing you can do. The power and control of it, the stealing the innocence of a child, and the horrible victimizations they went through with these monsters.”

A community united in prayer

In response to the heartbreaking revelations, residents of Centreville and Brent gathered to offer support, pray for, and seek justice for the young victims.

One prayer service was held at Centreville First Presbyterian Church as the sun set and community members joined in solemn unity. Among those attending was Lynn Ellinghausen, a Centreville resident and grandmother.

“I could not believe it. I’ve got three children and five grandchildren, and I thought this is horrible. How could anybody do anything like that?” Ellinghausen told WBRC. “It’s just absolutely awful. We’ve got great law enforcement, we’ve got a great sheriff, we’ve got people that are handling this, and we just have to do the best that we can and remember to pray every day for these children, pray for the families, and pray for the horrible people that did this.”

Mayor Mike Oakley also spoke during the service, reflecting on the trauma the victims endured.

“That abuse took the place of bedtime stories,” Oakley said. “That abuse took the place of tucking kids in at night. That abuse took the place of, ‘Hey let’s go to the ballpark and have a good day.’”

He stressed the importance of speaking out when abuse is suspected.

“I know it’s popular to say snitches get stitches but come on. This is children,” Oakley said. “This is child abuse. If you see something, if you know something, say something.”

A second vigil and continued calls for justice

Another prayer service was held the following Saturday at the Masonic Lodge Uptown, located near the Bibb County Courthouse. The event was open to the public and centered around faith, healing, and unity.

“It’s a suspended belief, I guess you’d say, that this could happen in a community near you,” Oakley stated to WVUA 23. “And then you can’t believe that anybody would be capable of doing that. But you know, evil exists all over the world, and that’s one reason why we’re doing a prayer vigil is because in the absence of evil, there’s good in God.”

Oakley urged residents to stand together and stay alert.

“We need your thoughts and prayers and to flood this area with prayers and good thoughts about the good people that are here, because we’ve got far more good people than we have bad people,” he said. “If you know something, then say something, because you’re affecting, you could affect a child’s life, you could affect a grown-up’s life. You could affect the community’s well-being just by being vigilant and speaking out. Don’t be afraid to speak out.”

Organizers said that the vigil was not only for the victims, but for the entire community as it begins to heal from an unthinkable tragedy.

“We’re here for the victims and we want the people to know that we are here for everybody that has been affected in this terrible instance,” Oakley said.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].