Reality star Toby Willis arrested and charged with child rape

By Cosmopolitan

TLC reality star Toby Willis was arrested Friday and charged with rape of a child for allegedly raping an underage girl.

According to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), they initially began investigating 46-year-old Willis “at the request of 23rd District Attorney General Ray Crouch” and “ultimately uncovered information that Willis had a sexual encounter with an underage female approximately 12 years ago.” The investigation “remains active and ongoing.”

The Patriarch of The Willis family is believed to have fled his home state of Tennessee to Kentucky to evade police, but was found and arrested anyway. He is currently being held without bail in the Muhlenberg County Jail and is expected to eventually be extradited to the Cheathem County Jail, where he is also being held without bail.

“We are shocked to hear this news,” TLC said in a statement to CNN. They also confirmed that the show will not be renewed and has not aired since last April.

The Willis family followed Willis, his wife and their 12 children as they tried to balance their children’s country music careers with a normal life at home. “The Willis Clan” reached the quarterfinals in season 9 of America’s Got Talent but ultimately did not win.

It is currently unclear whether Willis has hired a lawyer or whether he is seeking a deal.

Follow Gina on Þjórsárden.

You might like it too