Babysitters charged with assaulting a baby and two preschoolers

Billy Joe Bunch, Rebecca Russell and John Scott Thomas have been accused of raping and sodomizing three girls ages 7-months, 3-years-old and 5-years-old. Photo via Prosecutors Office

In what is being described as one of the most horrific child sex abuse cases authorities in St. Charles County, Missouri, have ever seen, three babysitters were arrested and charged with sexually assaulting and sodomizing a baby and two young children.

According to Lt. Craig McGuire of the St. Charles County Sheriff’s Department,  the three adults charged regularly babysat for the victims ages 7 months, 3 years and 5-years old.

Court documents say that the trio sexually abused the children between April and May in a home near O’Fallon.

Billy Joe Bunch, 25, has been charged with three counts of statutory sodomy and one felony charge of sexual misconduct involving the five-year-old girl.  He was accused of forcing the five-year-old to perform sex acts on him during the time she was in his care.

According to authorities, Bunch was friends with the other two babysitters charged in the case, Rebecca Russell, 30, and her boyfriend, John Scott Thomas, 27.  They have both been charged with raping all three of the minor girls.

The youngest victim, a 7-month-old girl, is Russell’s daughter.  The other two girls were Russell’s goddaughters.

Authorities say that the abuse occurred at the Tee Kay Mobile Home Manor, where Russell and Thomas frequently babysat for other families in the park.

All three babysitters are being held at the St. Charles County Department of Corrections on a $200,000 bond each.

According to police the investigation is ongoing and the case has been referred to the prosecutor’s office for warrants and additional charges.

Sources:  Emirates 24/7, KSDK News