Shocking Twist in Reality Star's Child Rape and Dog Sex Case

This is going to be your Miranda warning. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law

That was X reality star Tony McAulister being loaded into a cruiser as he was investigated for raping and drugging a child and having sex with dogs

Now McAulister faces a long list of charges and we're getting a look at what his defense will be at trial

I'll explain it all. I'm Angie Netlavy and this is crime fix

Tony McAulister is accused of some very serious charges involving the rape and drugging of a five-year-old girl and the use of his two dogs in sex acts and when he goes on trial for the crimes. His attorney will tell the jury that he is not guilty by reason of insanity. Now I'm going to get into what that means very shortly but first

let's talk about McAulister's co-defending Erica Grove. It's his girlfriend and Grove faces very similar charges. Grove has pleaded not guilty to the charges involving the rape and drugging of this little girl and the sex with McAulister's two dogs. Now we learned a lot about her during her

arrangement back in February. Erica's plea is not guilty today judge. Erica is in fact a victim here. She herself is a victim of her ex-boyfriend Tony McAulister. In this investigation or at least during the investigation her parents were advised by investigators that Erica was coerced to a certain extent largely to was largely coerced to do some of the things that she's now been indicted for doing.

Now that is what Erica Grove's attorney told the court at her arrangement. Her attorney said that Tony McAulister abused her. He also said that Grove worked as a nurse anesthetist and was an army veteran between 2010 and 2013. She was stationed at

Trippler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii and she provided direct patient care and a mixed medical served on the mixed medical surgical ICU.

Then still in the military between 2011 and 2012 she was stationed in the Philippines as a critical care flight nurse.

As a property as the flight nurse she provided stabilization care to combat trauma casualties during operation and during freedom.

Still in the military between 2013 and 2016 she was stationed with the 47th Combat Support Hospital at joint base in Lewis McCord, Washington where she was the head nurse for what they call a rapidly deployable Combat Support Hospital in ICU.

Between 2016 and 2019 she was stationed at Bethesda Maryland at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Hospital where she was a clinical staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit and in this role she was also selected to serve in the White House in the White House Medical Unit providing critical care and non-critical care to both the first and second families.

Earlier read through a long list of commendations Grove had received reading off of her DD 214 it appears that she's received multiple commendations.

They include the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

Along with the commendations, Grove's lawyer said she had passed a polygraph related to the charges that she faces.

Erica took and passed both a polygraph test and an ID Tech test to show that she has never physically sexually assaulted her daughter.

Those results were provided to the investigators.

It's important to note polygraph results are not admissible at trial but they're often used as an investigative tool by law enforcement.

Erica Grove is now free on bail and she has to follow really strict electronic monitoring guidelines.

So let's move on to Tony McCollister, the co-defendant who Erica Grove calls her abuser.

McCollister was on a short-lived reality show about swingers in the suburbs in 2015, A&E canceled neighbors with benefits after just two episodes.

On December 23rd, 2025, Sheriff's deputies descended on a home in Warren County, Ohio and took Tony McCollister and Erica Grove into custody.

What is his...

Happy.

It's preference.

Little kids.

Boys and girls.

Okay.

Okay.

And then she considered your party.

This is the daughter.

Yep.

Okay.

Let me see where you got all the way.

Let this up here a little bit.

Perfect.

Alright, we're gonna walk back for you a little bit.

You got anything on you at all?

No.

Okay.

That's it.

Okay.

But like I really do not want to accidentally pee when you're as far as I can.

Man, it is what I do.

I'm sure you're not.

It's all good.

Yes.

But we're not gonna be able to let you pee for a little bit.

Let me head up on this car real quick.

Do you care if I pat you down?

Go inside your pockets.

Oh, yeah.

The spread your legs real wide for me.

Yeah, that's gonna happen.

I'm like, hey.

Alright.

I have a lot of squat for me.

I'm not gonna be talking with you, but I am gonna go ahead and read this for you,

because you're being detained, okay?

Yeah.

This is gonna be your Miranda warning.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.

You have the right to talk to the lawyer and have him present with you while you're being questioned.

You cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

One will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish.

You can decide at any time to exercise these rights and not answer any questions or make any statements.

Do you understand each of these rights?

Yes.

Okay.

Man, it helps.

If you lean your legs out.

Yep.

Okay.

I'm gonna go out first.

Yeah.

There you go.

Now, slide your butt towards the middle.

There you go.

Yep.

Keep sliding.

Keep sliding.

There you go.

Now, if you wanna sit like that.

Oh, f***.

You need help?

I'm gonna do this in my shoulder.

There you go.

Oh, f***.

If you lean that way, you're back that way.

It takes some pressure off your wrist.

Yeah, I think.

Yeah.

I guess I have to deal with it.

I bet the thought that he's gonna happen, like it's gonna happen.

Like there's nothing I'm gonna do about it.

All right.

Hang on one second.

Now, the deputy goes to the trunk to get something because he really doesn't want Tony McCullister going to the bathroom in the back of his cruiser and making a big mess.

I can say, you're not gonna be able to go to the bathroom, but I can slide this under yet.

Okay.

Yeah, I don't want everybody mad at me.

That's all good.

I mean, it is what it is.

I'm not gonna be the one cleaning it out anyways.

Good.

Is it good this is gonna get it?

Yeah.

Okay.

What did you have shoulder surgery?

Like what shoulder surgery?

Uh, right shoulder.

Rotator cuff.

Rotator cuff.

Is it bothering you right now?

Uh, yeah.

All right.

Step out real quick.

What, uh, second pair of cuffs help you?

Totally.

All right.

Trying to face that one.

Can I get a unit over here so I can double cuff this nail?

Well, he's got shoulder problems.

Nah, thanks boss.

Now, I got a second set.

I just need somebody.

I got him.

Yeah.

Eight hundred's coming over here.

I can get a light real quick.

I'm gonna let this one go.

Put it right up on this card.

Don't move it at all.

Just put it straight up on the card.

All right.

Pop that one up.

All right.

Good.

Bring that one back down.

Palm facing this way.

There you go.

All right.

Like I said, if you pee, you pee.

But it's all right.

We're not gonna let you.

We're not gonna be able to let you guys back.

Unless someone higher up than me decides.

You're gonna be peeing in the car if you got a pee.

Got him pop a squat.

Is that any better?

Yes.

Okay, go here.

All right.

All right.

You need me to grab anybody else?

That's everybody.

After several minutes, the deputy goes back to check on Tony McCollister.

You're okay for right now?

Okay.

Just check.

I don't need like five minutes.

Yep. I'll check on you in five minutes.

If you have a problem, tap on this window.

Okay.

I'll be standing right out here.

But I will check on you in a couple minutes.

But you don't need a squat for right now.

I have to check my blood pressure.

You want a squad?

Just have to check my blood pressure.

All right.

Eighteen, nine to taste patch.

You're still copper.

Go around the van.

There's a cold attack that's coming around.

I'm not going to do it for you.

Eighteen, nine.

Go ahead.

Can you go ahead and have a squad start my way for a male with blood pressure issues?

He's wanting to get checked out.

Beers squad for blood pressure issues.

I just have an intersection with that man dressed and you can get to.

No, this intersection should be good.

I believe it's garden view circle and lavender well.

I'll be right here.

All right.

We got a squad on the way.

Check it out, boss.

Sir.

Did you hear me?

Yes.

Okay.

I'm conscious or nothing.

We got a squad on the way.

Macollister's dogs, Roscoe and Rocky were seized from the home.

Oh, babies!

Tony Macollister was booked into the jail and later indicted on 18 counts including rape,

gross sexual imposition, corrupting another with drugs, child endangering, and sex with animals.

During his arrangement, Macollister's lawyer argued that he should be released on bail.

He does have a place to live.

He is on social security disability.

He has no real record to talk about.

I think we even saw in his record a fishing violation and that's kind of the extent of his run-ins with the law.

I think it would be appropriate to release him on his own reconnaissance with electronic monitoring.

He could turn over his passport.

He does not appear to be a flight risk in any way, especially with electronic monitoring and his ties to the community.

So that would be what I would suggest is an appropriate bond.

At the arrangement, Macollister, he didn't enter a plea and now we know why.

He is now pleading not guilty by reason of insanity.

According to documents that his attorney recently filed, that's an affirmative defense.

And that means that Macollister isn't saying he didn't do what he's accused of doing.

He's saying he was so mentally ill at the time that he did it that he couldn't appreciate that when he was doing was wrong under the law.

The judge presiding over the case has ordered that Macollister undergo a mental health evaluation.

So I want to bring in Dr. Debbie Goodman.

She is a criminologist and she's wonderful.

Dr. Goodman, thank you so much for coming on.

I'm sorry that it's about something so ik but and disturbing, but I mean these are the cases we cover.

Tony Macollister faces some very, very serious charges in the state of Ohio.

I mean rape, you know, corrupting another with drugs, gross sexual imposition, you know, having sex with animals, you know, the two dogs.

I mean what he is accused of of with his girlfriend raping this little girl, drugging her and then having, you know, images of it.

So what what is your response, first of all, to the allegations in this case and then we'll move on to other topics.

Certainly well, good morning and Jeanette and it's always a pleasure and honor to join you and yes, what a difficult case this is to unpack.

But let's just for start with really what this speaks to it aligns with it's so vulgar, it's vicious, it's vile.

Now the question becomes with all of these allegations, did this person know what he was doing? Did he know what he was doing is wrong?

So right out of the box, I will say yes and here's why because the data and Jeanette is so sparse when it comes to insanity.

And we know that when this case goes to trial, that's apparently going to be his posture imposition that he didn't know what he was doing and he didn't know what he was doing was wrong.

But I don't believe that and here's why because even if we just did a very quick social experiment with the viewers and we asked them to take 10 seconds and think about the worst of the worst criminals that would come to mind.

Clearly names like Dahmer and Bundy, Raider, Gacy, Coburger.

And interestingly of all those names was anybody declared insane? No.

So when we think of the worst of the worst criminals, when they know what they're doing and they know what they're doing is wrong, I think even in a case like this as horrible and horrific as it is, you know, we're talking about rape and child molestation.

And also the factor about the animals, believe it or not, Anginette, in criminology.

We do have a category of crime called Zufilia, Zufilia and what it really speaks to is the sexual attraction to animals.

So that's the thought. And then of course for an individual who would take action, the action in so doing is bestiality.

So we can just start the.

So the dogs, let's talk about the dogs first before we unpack everything else because there, as you mentioned, there's a lot to unpack here of the dogs.

We have their names Roscoe and Rocky and these two dogs that we saw earlier in the in the show, you know, are in the back of the vehicle being photographed.

He has relinquished these dogs. He was the sole owner of these dogs. These were Tony McCollister's dogs and his attorney has filed paperwork saying, look, he's given up the dogs. Well, of course he has, he's in jail.

He can't own these dogs and he's accused of using them in sex acts with a little girl.

So I'm like, of course, I mean, the dogs were seized anyway. He was not going to get these dogs back. What's the point of even filing that?

Well, it just speaks to again, and Jeanette, the depravity, what we're really speaking about when it comes to these types of high profile cases and criminals who are capable of doing these vial acts.

They want to participate in their behaviors, yet it's only if and when they get caught that now they start going through and potentially maneuvering, let's say, the legal process.

But even with the dogs, the animals, of course, would be tested for the DNA. What type of DNA? Well, again, just like what it would be with a human.

Any type of blood, urine, semen, prints, hair fibers. These are the issues that would also point to accountability and culpability.

And that's going to be very important because the question becomes how blameworthy is this individual when it comes to the child, the little girl, and when it comes to the dogs.

Both crimes are just of such a vial magnitude that we know and understand how difficult it is to even fathom and wrap our own heads around this.

And that's what we do in criminology. We try to answer the why, but I do believe that the individual knew what he was doing. It just speaks to Jeanette to a sexual depravity.

These individuals become attracted to the most vulnerable members of society to include children, potentially elders.

One wouldn't even think it's in the wheelhouse of possibility to look at an animal towards sexual attraction. But yes, it happens.

And the data is so sparse, by the way, you know, I like to check data analytics anytime we have a conversation, maybe at or near last year,

and Jeanette in 2025, 11 cases that were reported, but you see my concern as a criminologist is these are only the cases we know about.

Right. All of the cases, right? Exactly. That go unreported.

Yeah, I think it's probably just uncovering these and we see them in the news and we talk about them.

I think the number unfortunately is probably a lot higher.

And so, you know, the reason they found out about this in the first place is because they got a tip about this that the sheriff's deputies did.

I want to talk about this not guilty by reason of insanity plea and I think we should break this down a little bit because basically this is an affirmative defense.

And what that means is that the person is saying, I did it. You know, I did it, but because I was mentally ill at the time.

And because that mental illness impacted my ability to appreciate, you know, how wrong this was or, you know, that this was wrong.

I'm not guilty because of that by reason of insanity. And I want to put up on the screen the exact verbiage of the of that statute in the state of Ohio.

And it says that basically a person is not guilty by reason of insanity relative to a charge of an offense only if a person proves by a preponderance of the evidence in the manner specified in the section of the revised code that at the time of the commission of the offense, the person did not know as a result of a severe mental illness or disease or defect the wrongfulness of the person's acts.

They're saying severe mental disease or defect. Now we know that this guy, it seems he wasn't really working like he might have been on social security disability.

I'm wondering severe mental disease or defect. I mean, that to me is conjuring up serious mental illness like, and there is a serious mental illness statute in the state of Ohio that pertains to like death penalty cases and stuff like that.

We're talking like bipolar disorder. We're talking schizophrenia stuff like that. So, but I mean, come on. Like you would have to be very mentally ill to understand that drugging a child and having her engage in sex acts related to dogs.

Like for you to not know that that was wrong, I mean, that's going to that's going to be a heavy lift, right? Because preponderance of the evidence if we so people understand, you know, beyond a reasonable doubt, that's like greater than 95%.

So preponderance of the evidence, if that's kind of like little more than 51%, right?

Right. Right. No, it's an excellent point that you raise and thank you for explaining that to the viewers because we know, and Jeanette also that the viewers may find interesting is that the percentiles and percentages in our field of criminology and criminal justice of how many individuals actually have a successful insanity defense. And that's the outcome. It is less than 2%.

So, again, all of those names that we pointed to earlier, if those people knew what they were doing and knew what they were doing is wrong. And even when we point to somebody like a Jeffrey Dahmer, who anybody and everybody hearing the name, which is absolutely fine cringe worthy. Yet, even he knew what he was doing and knew what he was doing is wrong.

So, I believe it's going to be the same outcome here for Tony McCollister and as depraved as it all is, as evil as it is, as horrendous as it is, I think he would have done it again, Jeanette, had he not gotten caught.

You see, it's always those moments in time where they get caught and now it's like, okay, now what? I don't want to go to prison for the rest of my life.

So, let me come up with something and I think that's the something, but I just do not believe it's going to be successful for either him or his girlfriend. Remember, she's involved too.

Right. She is involved and she is facing charges. And the thing that's really interesting to me is that she's a nurse anesthetist and they are accused of drugging this child.

And so, when the cops showed up, Dr. Goodman, they were like saying on bodyworn camera, you know, that she was like the lesser actor in this or at least that was their perception or belief at the time because she, I don't know, that was just their belief.

They believed he was like the bad, the worst actor of the two. Now in court, you know, it's like the prosecutor was saying in court when they were arraigned on these charges that, well, Macaulester kind of stood by and watched this happen.

Like, he was there, he knew what was going on. So, I'm like, oh my God, are they like saying that she was like the main actor now, like has it shift because shifted because she, when they were first arrested,

she was only charged, and I'm not saying only, but she was charged with the sex with the dogs.

He was charged with other stuff and held on a much higher bond. Then they were indicted and more charges were added against Erica Grove.

So, you know, it seems like the prosecutors are thinking maybe that she was like more of a main actor now.

That's interesting, but again, when we unpack both sides here, I think each of whom had the intent, right, we go right down that list as we normally do.

Did they plan it? I would say yes. Was there a level of premeditation? Yes. Was it willful? Was it with malice? So, all of those issues are very important for each one.

Now, sometimes in our field, as we know, when we have co-defendants, is one more culpable than the other? Perhaps, but how do we determine that?

Whose idea was it? Who had the idea? The fact that it's even an idea, you know, in criminology, we call it the men's ray of the thought of doing the crime.

But nobody really knows what's in another's head engineer unless it is expressed. So, now if we have co-defendants, let's say party A said to party B, G, let's do, you know, XYZ.

Certainly, you would think somebody in that conversation would say, are you crazy? Of course not. But the fact that the other party just hypothetically would go along with it that truly does speak to their knowledge and their willfulness and their intent to do it.

So, I really think both of whom are just if these allegations are accurate and the violation and victimization, not only of a child, but also with these animals, it just has to yield penalty for both.

You know, the allegations are horrific and it's just really awful. There's going to be a hearing in April on this issue.

So, it'll be interesting to see what happens for this NGRI defense in the court. Do you think, though, that Tony McCollister, you know, he will be evaluated by professionals and, you know, he's going to be assessed.

And so, the court has ordered that evaluation. Do you think that, you know, this goes to trial? Do you think that we see him testify? Like, do you think he gets up on the stand in order to prove this defense?

You know, that's another interesting aspect to this and we know a lot of times how these trials go depending on the actual credibility or lack thereof of the defendant. It's really a gamble.

I almost think that just, you know, what we think we know of him, I almost feel like he'd want to take the stand and want to testify, but I do not think a jury would look toward him as somebody in any way shape or form as a productive member of society, as somebody who has been contributing and just had a mishap or a lapse in judgment.

I really think, should he take the stand? A jury would just be so shocked and sick and startled by it all that it would really be in his disfavor.

And I think there's going to be this. I think this is going to be like, he did it. She did it. She was the worst one. He was worse. He did it. Like, I think there's going to be some of that going on. And it's like, who's making a deal first, even though he's doing NGRI?

I'll be able to see how this pans out at the heart of this are it's a little girl who the prosecutors are saying was raped and drugged, which is horrific. I hope she's getting the help that she needs. Just awful. And then, of course, these dogs, it's sick. Dr. Debbie Goodman. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

Thank you, and Jeanette is always my pleasure. Tony McCullister remains in the Warren County jail on a $250,000 bond, but his lawyer is asking that his bail be modified or reduced, so he can post it and be released.

A hearing on his not guilty by reason of insanity defense will be held in April. And we'll keep track of that for you and let you know what happens. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix.

I'm Jeanette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. Remember, you can always catch us on YouTube. You can also watch and listen on Spotify. I'll see you back here next time.