Etowah County Sheriff Accused of Sex with Underage Girls
Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin came under fire earlier this year when it was revealed he bought a beach house with money that was supposed to have been used to feed inmates at the county jail. Now another scandal: Entrekin is accused of having sex with underage girls. His accuser, Etowah County native Mary Elizabeth Cross, says it happened in the summer of 1992. According to her account, she was 15 when she attended parties Entrekin hosted filled with alcohol, drugs and sex. It was during these parties, she alleges, he had sex with her four times. She says she also saw him rape another young woman. Entrekin denies the allegations.
WBHM’s Andrew Yeager spoke with al.com investigative reporter Connor Sheets, who broke this story.
Interview Highlights
On investigating her claims:
“Chas Clifton, who is the police chief for Oneonta [and prepared a police incident report], he used some various techniques aimed at trying to figure out if someone’s lying or if they’re misleading. And she never fell for any of those, so that was a good indication, like, let’s continue looking into this …
“I spoke with another girl who allegedly was raped by Todd Entrekin and another man … She said, yes, she did tell me she had been hooking up with these law enforcement officers. One of Mary’s family members confirmed some of the general gist of the allegations too … Obviously, something that happened in 1992, there’s no way I can say definitively, yes, this absolutely happened … but as far as, were [the allegations] credible to be reported? Yes.”
Why Mary Cross is speaking out now:
“She’s come clean off drugs. She’s not on alcohol anymore, according to her. She’s also found religion and gone to rehab facilities multiple times. What she says is that through that process she’s been able to realize that in order to move forward in her life and do what she describes as ‘God’s work,’ she needs to sort of get past her past. For her, this was sort of a cathartic experience on some level.”
What happens now:
“[Entrekin’s] lawyer has requested that there be an investigation into these allegations by Miss Cross. Police Chief Clifton, I know that he is very interested in having it be taken over by a state entity. I understand that there is some interest from state authorities. That’s just anecdotal.”
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins
Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.
Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries
Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.
