GRAVES COUNTY, Ky. (WSIL) -- According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, two suspects recently pleaded guilty for serious crimes involving minors and animals in Graves County.
The Graves County Sheriff's Office said they conducted a thorough investigation after receiving reports in late 2023 about a suspect involved in child sexual abuse and selling explicit content online. The sheriff's office also said a second suspect was involved as well.
"An in-depth investigation by the sheriff’s office was conducted, including a series of searches over several months where electronic devices were seized, downloaded and analyzed," the Graves County Sheriff's Office stated in an online post. "As a result, multiple images of children under the age of 12 made to perform sexual acts were secured, as well as video and photographic evidence of sexual crimes against animals were secured as evidence."
Authorities identified Neela M. Wilford, 47, of Mayfield, and Christopher D. Carruthers, 32, of Meadow Lands, Pennsylvania, as the suspects. The sheriff's office said they met online, and Carruthers traveled to Graves County to commit these crimes.
In 2024, both suspects were arrested and indicted.
Authorities said Carruthers pleaded guilty for six counts of Sex Crimes Against Animals and two counts of Possession of Matter Portraying a Minor (Under the Age of 12) in a Sexual Performance. On April 15, 2025, Carruthers was sentenced to 12 years to run consecutively with a sentence from another case.
Wilford pleaded guilty on June 9, 2025, on multiple counts of Sex Crimes Against Animals, Possession of Matter Portraying a Minor (Under the Age of 12) in a Sexual Performance and Methamphetamine possession, the sheriff's office reported. Wilford is set to be sentenced on June 23, 2025.
The Graves County Sheriff's Office and Commonwealth Attorney's Office collaborated on this case.
