July 31, 2025
Reported by Mike Hobson
In response to horrific child sex abuse cases recently reported in Bibb County, Alabama, State Rep. Matt Simpson (R – Daphne), Sen. April Weaver (R – Brierfield), Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade and Attorney General Steve Marshall appeared before the Press in the Montgomery State House this morning.
The Bibb County cases involve the arrest of seven adults and the victimization of at least ten children, so far, between the ages of 3 and 15 years. The officials today were there to discuss a proposed bill that is aimed at imposing the death penalty on perpetrators of sexual crimes against children, especially those under 12 years of age.
Originally sponsored in the Alabama House during the 2025 regular session, the legislation allows prosecutors to request the death penalty for those convicted of raping or sodomizing children younger than 12-years-old.
Under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the death penalty is currently applicable only in cases involving the loss of life — such as murder, robbery in which an individual is killed, and others — but Simpson and Weaver are confident that passing their law in Alabama will influence the court to reconsider its precedent. Florida and Tennessee have recently enacted similar laws in their states.
Representative Simpson began by saying “we live in a world where we must have punishments for people that commit this offense. In my opinion this is the worst of the worst of offenses. Taking advantage and taking the innocence of children under the age of 12 is one of the worst things, if not the worst, someone can do, because it is one of the worst offenses. It deserves the worst of the worst punishments. We are here today to let you know we will be refiling a bill to allow for the capital punishment for those that commit the offense of rape or sodomy of a child under the age of 12.
Senator April Weaver asserted “when a horrific child sex trafficking ring is reported in the news most people assume that it could not happen in their backyard. But as someone who has deep roots in Bibb County and represents Bibb County in the Alabama Senate, I just want you to know that these events have hit really, really close to home. I believe that there is a special place in hell for child sex predators. And when we pass this bill and it is approved by the courts there is also going to be a special place in Alabama for child sex predators and that is on the death row of Holman Prison. I defy anyone, anywhere with any conscience or any sense of morals to look at this case and others like it and argue that the death penalty is not appropriate.”
Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade said “this is one of the most horrific cases of child sexual abuse that any of us can remember in our combined careers. It is not unique to Bibb County. This type of thing goes on in a lot of other places and there are many law enforcement officers who work cases just as horrific as this one.’ Sheriff Wade went on to express his support for the proposed legislation.
Attorney General Steve Marshall expressed his thanks to Sheriff Wade for the work that has been done to bring the current defendants to the justice system. He said “this is not the first time that Alabama has considered the question of capital punishment for these types of cases. At a point earlier in time it was the law. “ Marshall also praised the diligent work by the Central Alabama Child Advocacy Center (Bibb County) for their work in this and other cases where the victims are children.
In his closing remarks Representative Simpson said “I have an ace in the hole and that ace up my sleeve is Senator April Weaver. She is an incredibly effective legislator. She is passionate. She is a fighter. I have had the chance to work side by side with her in the House and help legislation, and she has since become a Senator. I can’t tell you how happy I was to get that call from Senator Weaver who said, this cannot stand anymore. What do we need to do? She is absolutely essential and she is the difference between last year and this year. “
This bill has not been pre-filed for the 2026 session yet while legislators continue to tweak the language of the bill and track it with what other states have already put in place.
Attorney General Marshall closed by saying how much respect he holds for the manner in which Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade has utilized the resources of his small office to investigate and resolve this case. Marshall said” I’ve seen a lot in 25 plus years as a prosecutor, the scope and depth and the depravity of what has been described, and I think we’re still going to learn more when we allow the facts to be tried. They are the worst that I’ve ever seen.”
