In one of the most heinous crimes, an Oklahoma couple was arrested on June 14. They were charged with raping their two-year-old daughter.
The couple had tortured other victims also
According to the court documents, Gerrad Coddington, 25, and his wife Christina Nelson-Coddington, 29, beat, handcuffed and raped their two-year-old daughter. The Pauls Valley couple was also planning to rape their unborn child. The couple had tortured and sexually abused other victims in their care, including a six-year-old victim who was handcuffed and tasered.
The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children gave two cyber tip-offs via Facebook to a cyber agent in the Oklahoma Attorney General Office. The couple was allegedly sharing graphic photos of their daughter. After receiving the tips, the office began the investigation and arrested the couple.
Attorney General Mike Hunter said that they saw activity on the internet that suggested there was a minor being exploited. The investigation further disclosed that the crimes that involved the minor child were incredibly distressing. Additional charges were added based on evidence uncovered during the investigation.
Charges against them
The couple is now facing charges of first-degree rape, incest, child abuse, conspiracy charges. The office is also pursuing charges of manufacturing child pornography and violation of the Oklahoma Computer Crimes Act.
The charges can get them a maximum 20-year sentence in Oklahoma. If a conviction is obtained in the federal court, then the sentence can be ten years longer. The couple is being sent to Garvin County jail, each on a $5 million bond ahead of their next court appearance.
Statement by the Attorney General
Mr. Hunter said that children were among the most vulnerable and defenseless in our society, and crimes against them would never be tolerated by his office. He further ensured that those who commit these types of crimes would be held accountable and punished to the full extent of the law.