‘The Willis Family’ Patriarch Charged With Rape: Father-Of-12 And Reality Star Toby Willis Charged With Raping A Child, Fled Police
TLC is once again doing damage control for one of their mega-families following revelations that one of their reality television stars may be guilty of a sex crime. Much like the Duggar family, the Willis family was known for their large brood of children. Couple Toby and Brenda Willis have 12 children, ranging in age from five to 24. Interesting, like the Duggars, the Willis family’s children all have names that begin with the letter J. However, there may be some darker comparisons as well. Patriarch Toby Willis has been arrested for allegedly raping a child, an incident that police reports indicate happened some 12 years ago. To make matters worse, it was revealed that prior to his arrest, Toby fled Tennessee in a bid to escape law enforcement, but was picked up in Kentucky.
People Magazine reports that 46-year-old Toby Willis was arrested on charges of child rape after an investigation was opened on August 29 into a possible case involving the reality television star. The Willis Family rose to fame after reaching the quarterfinals in America’s Got Talent in 2014, for performances by their country music family band called The Willis Clan. Following the American’s Got Talent success, the mega-family was offered a spot on TLC in a series focused on the family’s day-to-day life as musicians in their huge household. Much like the Duggars, the Willis family espoused Christian values to their viewers, picking up many of the Duggar fans who were disappointed following revelations of the Josh Duggar molestation and infidelity scandals.
Another TLC scandal: “The Willis Family” patriarch charged with child rape. https://t.co/f2nEInmPy7 pic.twitter.com/sMfekRteGx
— Newsy (@NewsyVideos) September 11, 2016
Though the Willis family proclaimed their Christianity and often featured songs with a Christian message, the family presented themselves as more “relaxed” in their approach to their religion. While the Duggars put their strict values on showcase, the Willis clan has less restrictive clothing guidelines and allows dating. Sadly, it appears that despite Brenda Willis noting the importance of “staying true to what the Bible says” while being accepting of others, her husband may not have been doing the same. Though many fans have found the family’s purported values refreshing, the reality is that life may not have been what it appeared on the screen for the father-of-12 Toby Willis.
Toby Willis is portrayed as a loving husband to Brenda Willis and doting father-of-12 on the TLC series The Willis Family. However, police in Tennessee have quietly been investigating Toby Willis since August 29 when they learned that the reality star may have raped a child in Nashville 12 years ago. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed that Special Agents from the TBI have arrested and charged Toby Willis in connection to an ongoing child rape investigation. During the investigation, agents reveal that information developed that indicated that Willis had had sexual relations with an underage female 12 years ago.
“During the course of the investigation, Agents developed information Willis had a sexual encounter approximately 12 years ago with an underage female. The investigation into Willis remains active and ongoing.”
Furthermore, the TBI revealed that when Toby caught wind of the investigation he attempted to flee his home in Nashville, Tennessee, in a bid to escape arrest. However, he was picked up by agents in Greenville, Kentucky, despite his efforts to flee.
“TBI Agents arrested the 46-year-old in Greenville, Kentucky, where he traveled in an effort to avoid law enforcement, and charged him with one count of Rape of a Child. At the time of this release, he was being held in the Muhlenberg County Jail without bond on a Fugitive from Justice warrant.”
The disgraced reality star is now being extradited back to Cheatham County where he will be held without bond.
TLC has responded with shock and disbelief to the claims and has since scrubbed the family from their website.
[Image via Facebook/ The Willis Family]
