An Ohio couple, Tony McCollister and Erica Lynn Grove, both 43, have been arrested for serious charges, including the rape of a young girl and engaging in sexual acts with a dog. Their arrests came after Google alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about disturbing content linked to McCollister’s IP address.
McCollister was once a participant in A&E’s short-lived series “Neighbors with Benefits,” which aired in 2015 and showcased the lives of couples involved in swinging. In the show, he’s depicted as a figure trying to engage new neighbors in a lifestyle of openness and freedom.
Throughout a six-month investigation, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office found shocking video evidence of the couple engaging with two dogs. Further inquiries revealed that they had also drugged and raped a girl under the age of six. Authorities found additional materials related to the sexual abuse of this child.
Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell expressed his distress over the evidence uncovered. He noted that while initial fears centered on the animal abuse, the discovery of the rape case against a child shifted the gravity of the situation entirely. He mentioned the difficulty in processing such cases during his daily work involving child exploitation.
Despite the investigation still being in its early phases, Fornshell emphasized the urgency of presenting the case to a grand jury after learning about the child rape allegations.
The charges against Grove amount to 24 counts, which include rape, corrupting another with drugs, gross sexual imposition, and sexual activity with an animal. McCollister faces 30 charges, which are similar but also include counts related to sexual pandering involving a minor.
The couple is set to appear in Warren County Common Pleas Court for their arraignment on February 4.
