America’s Got Talent Willis Family Dad Charged with Child Rape

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Toby Willis, the patriarch of The Willis Clan has been arrested and charged with raping a child.

America’s Got Talent fans may remember the fresh-faced and wholesome Willis Clan band from their appearance on America’s Got Talent in 2014. Twelve kids played and sang saccharine sweet covers under the tutelage of their ever-watchful parents. The family business started in Gospel. Yes, they are all devout Christians. After their AGT stint, they were cast in a TLC reality show The Willis Family that was cancelled in May due to low ratings.

TMZ, as they always do, have the details:

Toby Willis, the dad from TLC’s “The Willis Family” has been arrested and charged with raping a child.

Special agents from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations say they began investigating Willis late last month. We’re told he was arrested Friday after the investigation revealed Willis had a sexual encounter approximately 12 years ago with an underage female.

Investigators say Willis was picked up in Kentucky after he fled law enforcement. He’s been charged with one count of rape of a child and is being held without bond.

The Willis Family features Toby, his wife and their 12 children between the ages of 5 and 24 who make up a country music band.

Sources close to the show tell us the family was informed in May by TLC it wouldn’t be picked up for a third season. We’re also told the network did extensive background checks on Toby and his family but nothing raised any red flags. A rep for the networks tells us they haven’t aired an episode of the show since April and they are, “shocked to hear the news.”

On America’s Got Talent, the family was cut at the Quarterfinal round. Check out a couple of their performances.

They auditioned with a countrified version of “Favorite Things” from Sound of Music

At the Quarterfinal round, the singers countrified “Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News. The video package features the entire family.

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About mj santilli 34829 Articles
Founder and editor of mjsbigblog.com, home of the awesomest fan community on the net. I love cheesy singing shows of all kinds, whether reality or scripted. I adore American Idol, but also love The Voice, Glee, X Factor and more!