Last Updated: Thursday, 11:13 a.m.
Paul Dykes, an 18-year-old resident of 22 Buffalo Meadow Lane in Palm Coast, was arrested in late March on 10 counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of transmission of child pornography.
The arrest was a result of a Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The FDLE investigation continued, and led to worse charges: on Wednesday, FDLE announced it had charged Dykes and his former girlfriend, 20-year-old Erin Marie Vickers, each with a count of capital child rape. The charges were filed on April 6.
FDLE had originally been tipped off about Dykes’s alleged possession and transmission of child pornography when the the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children tipped off the state agency about information it had received regarding materials Dykes was posting on a social media website. FDLE agents investigated and seized Dykes’s computer, finding 10 short videos that depicted the sexual abuse and rape of children as young as 2 years old. Most of the videos were of violent acts toward children younger than 10.
As the investigation continued, FDLE stated in a news release today, “investigators found images of Dykes abusing a child under the age of 5 and images of Vickers abusing another child under the age of 5.”
The two incidents involving young girls occurred at separate times, the state police said.
Vickers, a resident of 9 Ryall Lane in Palm Coast and a 2013 graduate of Flagler Palm Coast High School, describes herself on her Facebook page as a “Full Time Mommy ❤, Being a Mommy and Work for the Kingdom of God.” Mother to 15-month-old daughter, her page reflects the familiar musings of a young mother with a loving, protective focus on her child: most of the hundreds of images in her photo collections are of her child. She repeatedly notes her indifference to being single now that she has her daughter. In February,m she posted a meme that stated: “My ex is living proof as to how stupid I can be.”
The postings, frequent throughout, stopped after her last image on March 24, a meme that said: “I don’t have to worry about getting kidnapped, they would bring me back in less than an hour.”
An incident report the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office released Thursday reveals that the sheriff’s office assisted FDLE in serving the search warrant at the Ryall Lane address at 7:30 Wednesday, and that the victim of the abuse was at that address. The child’s 48-year-old grandmother and Vickers’s 18-year-old sister live at the address as well. The Department of Children and Families took custody of Vickers’s child, the incident report states.
Dykes was first arrested on March 26. Both Vickers and Dykes are being held at the Flagler County jail without bond. Dykes previously worked at a local Publix.
Later in the afternoon, an additional charge was tacked on to Vickers’ charges: probation violation. She had been arrested in Polk County in June 2013 as part of a sting operation by Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, targeting sexual predators. The sting netted 41 arrests. Among them: Vickers. She had allegedly accompanied her 35-year-old boyfriend to Polk to meet with a 14-year-old girls, deputies told the Tampa Tribune at the time. Vickers was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior on a child between 12 and 16, traveling for a meeting with a child after using a computer to lure the child, and using a two-way communication device to commit a felony. The first two charges were dropped. She was found guilty of the third and sentenced to probation.
She was booked at the Polk County jail where she remained from June 15 to Oct. 23 that year.
Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact FDLE’s Jacksonville Regional Operations Center at (800) 226-6481.
PeachesMcGee says
And you don’t believe in the death penalty.
Jon Hardison says
I don’t even know what to say. Innocent until proven guilty and all that, but I’m so utterly disgusted right now.
Nikia says
Completely nauseated.
Tina says
Speechless. This is worse than the worst nightmare.
YankeeExPat says
“Being a Mommy and Work for the Kingdom of God.” ? Perhaps just a temp worker, this is what happens when God outsources.
Groot says
Is it me or did I not see these two working at a local grocery store? Familiar faces. Despicable charges.
Cheese puff says
They give people the chair for this kind of stuff.
Retired FF says
Can’t wait to see what our useless judicial system does with these two low life scum.
summer toombs says
This kid tried to friend request me on Facebook. I am 38, but at the time I had 3 girls ages 3 to 15. I didnt know this kid at all, so why would he friend request me? Makes me sick to think he liked my girls. Glad he is off the streets.
Anonymous says
disgusting…worse than animals, they protect thier young. Please throw away the key
A.S.F. says
“…Work for the Kingdom of God.” Uh,huh.
Groot says
I ‘m pretty sure these two work at Belle Terre Publix. Doesn’t Publix do background checks?
Enlightened says
My family is close to Erin and her daughter. This comes as a complete shock. We don’t know what to think. We are concerned for the little girl. Please pray for this child.
Kksign74 says
It didn’t say what god she was working for. I believe we would know him as Satan. Not Jehovah.
Haley says
PJ did work at publix, Erin didn’t. And publix does to background checks but this is PJ’s first arrest, so there was nothing to be seen at the time of his hiring.
Bob Fortier says
I cannot even begin to imagine what kind of animals would do things like this to children. I truly believe that the death penalty is the only way to stop this from happening so often. Sick animals…
ryan says
I just hope these sickos are punished to the fullest extent of the law. They deserve it and I hope people become fearful of defending them as well. that is what their public defender is for, not worthless people who have nothing better to do than defend bad people.
Groot says
Well, we’re sure we saw her working there in the past. My wife says it has been maybe a year ago. Regarding a first arrest, yes it is but it may be his last. He’s going away for a very long time and when or if he gets out, no one will hire him. He wrecked his life. Guessing the girl will get off lighter but same thing, work life is toast, no one will hire her. The big concern is the kids, not the perps. I just hope the kids can grow up strong, healthy and well adjusted away from the biological mom and dad.
anonymous says
Makes me sick I dated him and he once told me he dreamed about insest. I left him right away.. His poor daughter I pray he did nothing to that poor baby! And for Erin I ate lunch with her everyday.. she dated my best friend I would have never thought she would do this… sad world…
LME says
Vicker seems to have a sick fetish seeing how she has been arrested as a sexual predator and she is attracted to other lowlifes who do the same….they both need to be sterilized and have their hands cut off as you know our justice system will have them back out on the street. Thank God, they have been found out!
Bee says
I hope that the awful justice system in Florida does its job for once. But, more importantly, I hope ALL of the children involved, including the child that Vickers has, will be taken care of. With photographic evidence, the culprits will go to federal prison. But the children who were victimized will need serious care. I hope Vickers’ child finds a safe home and the victims are given the care they need. Pray for all involved!!
Livesinpalmcoast says
Anyone that could harm a child is just sick…… May they receive the correct and appropriate punishment.
#1 Gator Fan says
The creep factor in Palm Coast just go kicked up a notch. Again,I have NEVER lived in a place like this hell hole.
palmer says
Gator I have to agree
Groot says
You go it Gator, it is a mess. Cheap rents, low property values and it attracts too many fringe people. Higher property values, controls on the numbers of rental would help but those in power do not seem to listen or care.
Regular Guy says
Comes as a complete surprise?!? She’s already been arrested for the same thing less than two years ago. She needs to be sentenced to life in prison.
Marcos says
Agree Groot – Need to have a building freeze of new houses for a few years to pump values. Values up and quality of residents up.
Joy says
Then attend city council meetings. Get involved. Nothing will change if you change nothing