‘Underground bunker’ arrests pushing Alabama lawmakers to call for death penalty in child rape cases

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA/Gray News) - A pair of Alabama lawmakers held a press conference in Montgomery on Thursday morning to talk about their push to make child rape cases death penalty eligible.

The motion comes after seven people were arrested in Bibb County in a sexual abuse case for allegedly assaulting children in an “underground bunker.” Their charges range from rape to sexual torture and human trafficking.

“When you have situations like what happened in Bibb County, that would be up to the Bibb County prosecutor, but this would be a tool that they would have in their belt that they could if they decided to use that,” Alabama Rep. Matt Simpson said.

Simpson is planning to file a bill in the Alabama House. Republican Sen. April Weaver is planning to file a bill in the Alabama Senate that would make those convicted of rape or sodomy of a child younger than 12 eligible for the death penalty.

Weaver represents Bibb County.

“I defy anyone anywhere with any conscience or any sense of morals to look at this case and others like it and argue the death penalty is not appropriate,” said Weaver.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said that in his 25 years as a prosecutor, the case out of Bibb County is the worst that he has ever seen.

In 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty can only be used in cases involving the loss of life.

Simpson and Weaver said they think they have momentum to change that, adding that a handful of other states have passed similar laws, which could put pressure on the Supreme Court to reconsider.

At the press conference, Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said he backs the effort.

“As we work to give a voice to these victims that haven’t been able to have their say, we just wanted to come out here and voice our support for this legislation,” Wade said.

The 2026 legislative session starts on Jan. 13.

Simpson and Weaver said they are looking to get additional cosponsors before officially introducing the legislation, which is in an effort to push the bill on to Gov. Kay Ivey’s desk as quickly as possible.