Wife of "Master Ed" charged in sex slave/torture case - KOAM TV 7

WARNING:  This story is sexually graphic.

Updated January 30, 2012 at 1:30 PM CST:  The trial is delayed for a southwest Missouri man charged in a sex slave case.

The trial for Edward Bagley Sr., and his wife, Marilyn, had been scheduled to begin February 13.  That date has been pushed to September 17.

Investigators say the Bagley's held a mentally deficient woman captive for years.  Authorities say the victim had been locked in a cage in their mobile home near Lebanon, Missouri.

Court documents describe a series of horrific crimes that occurred between 2002 and 2009.  Prosecutors say customers paid to participate in the rape and torture of the captive woman.

In March 2011, former Nevada, Missouri Postmaster Dennis Henry of Wheatland admitted that he was one of those customers.

Henry has not yet been sentenced.

Updated March 30, 2011 at 3:20 PM CST:  Less than a week after the former postmaster in Nevada plead guilty to his role in a sex-trafficking conspiracy, the wife of another man charged has now been charged in the case.

Last week Dennis Henry, 51, plead guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking in a case involving a young, mentally deficient woman coerced into being a sex slave and tortured at a trailer home.

Now, Marilyn Bagley, 45, and her husband, Edward Bagley, Sr., 43, as well as Michael Stokes, 62, and Bradley Cook, 32, have been charged by a grand jury.

According to the indictment the Bagley's invited the victim - 16 at the time - into their home after she ran away from home in December 2002, promising her "a great life".

The indictment alleges over the next several years the woman was sexually abused, tortured and forced to work as an exotic dancer at local strip clubs.

Authories began investigating when they were made aware of the situation in 2009 when the then 23 year old woman was allegedly suffocated and electrocuted during a torture session, went into cardiac arrest and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

News release issued by the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. B Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Lebanon, Mo., woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury, joining her husband and four other co-defendants who were indicted last year for their roles in a commercial sex trafficking conspiracy.

The federal indictment alleges that a young, mentally deficient woman was sexually abused and tortured for several years at a Lebanon residence, and forced to work as an exotic dancer at local strip clubs. Today's indictment also contains additional charges against the original defendants related to a murder-for-hire scheme, witness and victim tampering and witness retaliation, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and child pornography.

Marilyn Bagley, 45, along with her husband Edward Bagley, Sr., also known as "Master Ed," 43, and Michael Stokes, also known as "The Rodent," 62, all of Lebanon, Mo., and Bradley Cook, also known as "PutHer2GoodUse," 32, of St. Louis, Mo., were charged in an 18-count superseding indictment returned by a grand jury in Kansas City, Mo. Today's superseding indictment replaces a Sept. 8, 2010, indictment. Edward Bagley, Stokes and Cook remain in federal custody.

Today's indictment alleges that Edward and Marilyn Bagley enticed a female victim, identified as AFV,@ who they believed came from a troubled childhood and suffered from mental deficiencies, into their trailer home in a wooded area. They allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse and sexual torture activities with FV to groom and coerce her to become a sex slave. Edward Bagley allegedly beat, whipped, flogged, suffocated, choked, electrocuted, caned, skewered, drowned, mutilated, hung and caged FV to coerce her to become a sex slave.

Edward Bagley allegedly advertised online that FV was his slave and could be sexually tortured during live online sessions or in person. The indictment states that Stokes and Cook participated in this conspiracy as customers who paid and offered goods to Bagley to sexually abuse and torture FV. The indictment also alleges that Edward Bagley forced FV to work as a stripper and the Bagleys kept the proceeds from that work.

The federal investigation began after Bagley allegedly suffocated and electrocuted FV during a torture session to a state of cardiac arrest on Feb. 27, 2009. FV, who was 23 years old at that time, received emergency medical treatment and was hospitalized.

Today's superseding indictment contains an additional charge against Edward Bagley for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Cook is also charged with two additional counts of using an interstate facility in the commission of murder for hire, and with one count each of attempted tampering with a victim and attempted witness retaliation, all of which are related to an alleged attempt to kill FV between Sept. 28, 2010, and Dec. 9, 2010. Cook is also charged with tampering with another witness, who is identified as "JP" in the indictment.

Today's superseding indictment also contains additional charges against Stokes for receiving child pornography over the Internet and for possessing child pornography.

According to the federal indictment, the Bagleys invited FV, who was 16 years old at the time, into their trailer after she ran away from home in December 2002. They promised FV, who had grown up in foster care homes, a "great life," and promised that they would help her to become a model and a dancer, the indictment says.

The Bagleys used the Internet and BDSM pornography to train and groom FV (while she was still a minor) to be a sex slave. Marilyn Bagley allegedly modeled "slave clothes" as part of recruiting FV to become Edward Bagley's slave. Edward Bagley allegedly gave FV marijuana and ecstasy, showed her images of pornography and sadomasochism activities, and began sexually abusing her while she was still a minor.

Edward Bagley began sexually torturing FV in February 2004, according to the indictment, when she turned 18 years old and he had her sign a Asex slave contract,@ which he convinced FV legally bound her to him as his slave for the rest of her life. The indictment cites numerous allegations of a variety of sexual acts, torture, and mutilation over a five-year period.

Marilyn Bagley posed in photographs taken by Edward Bagley, the indictment says, where she sexually abused FV. Marilyn Bagley allegedly told FV to "do as she was told" and refused to offer assistance when FV expressed fear of Edward Bagley. Marilyn Bagley benefited financially and by receiving something of value from her role in the sex trafficking scheme.

If FV attempted to stop the activity or cried for help, the indictment says, Edward Bagley escalated the torture. Edward Bagley allegedly threatened to kill FV and demonstrated to her that he could do so by keeping numerous guns in the home. Edward Bagley shot animals that FV cared for in front of her, the indictment says, and bragged about the bodies he had already buried in the woods behind the trailer home. Edward Bagley also threatened to bury FV alive, the indictment says, and showed her a video demonstrating how he intended to do it.

Edward Bagley had FV tattooed to mark her as his property, the indictment says, including a bar code on her neck, a tribal tattoo on her back with the letter AS@ to mark her as a slave, and the Chinese symbol for slave on her ankle.

Between February 2004 and February 2009, the indictment says, Edward Bagley tortured FV on live webcasts on the Internet. Cook allegedly watched live video over the Internet of FV being sexually abused and tortured, and downloaded pictures of FV to his computer. Cook allegedly sent images to Edward Bagley of females in his residence that he beat, bound and tied up to share ideas of how to abuse FV. Cook allegedly used those torture methods on FV when he visited the Bagley residence. Cook gave Bagley a hard drive with sadomasochism and torture videos downloaded from the Internet, including videos demonstrating to Bagley how he could bury FV alive.

Stokes allegedly traveled to the Bagleys' residence and engaged in both sexually torturing FV and watching Edward Bagley torture FV. Stokes gave Bagley steaks, cigarettes, coats, clothing, lighters and cash. Stokes paid $1,000 for Bagley to transport FV to California in December 2006 for a photo shoot in which FV performed sexual acts. Stokes paid Bagley $300 for a torture session, and also gave him money to build a home-made device to sexually torture FV.

In addition to the criminal conspiracy, each of the defendants is also charged with one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and one count of using the Internet to facilitate the unlawful activity.

Edward and Marilyn Bagley are also charged together with forced labor trafficking and document servitude. The federal indictment alleges that the Bagleys forced FV to work as a stripper and exotic dancer at adult entertainment clubs from June 2007 to February 2009. They allegedly earned approximately $112,200 from FV=s work. According to the indictment, Edward Bagley punished FV with torture and physical and sexual abuse for failing to be a top earner at the adult entertainment clubs where he had her dance and strip. Edward and Marilyn Bagley allegedly confiscated FV=s identification documents, including her state-issued identification card, birth certificate and Social Security card.

Edward Bagley is also charged with one count each of using the Internet to entice a minor to engage in illicit sex, enticement to travel for illicit sexual activity, transportation for illicit sexual activity, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21 and being a drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition.

The federal indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Bagley to forfeit to the government any proceeds obtained from the alleged offenses, as well as any property used to commit the alleged offenses, including $112,200 allegedly obtained by the forced labor trafficking of the victim, two computers, sex toys and paraphernalia and torture devices and 11 firearms. Cook would also be required to forfeit three computers, a hard drive, two Xbox 360s and seven firearms.

Under federal statutes, a conviction for commercial sex trafficking carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole. A conviction for either commercial sex trafficking or forced labor trafficking that involves aggravated sexual abuse carries a maximum penalty of life in federal prison without parole.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia L. Cordes, Paul Becker and John Cowles. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.

Updated March 24, 2011 at 3:00 PM CST:  The former postmaster in Nevada, Missouri has plead guilty in federal court to his role in a sex-trafficking conspiracy involving a young, mentally deficient woman who was coerced into being a sex slave and tortured at a trailer home.

Dennis Henry, 51 of Wheatland, plead guilty today to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and to transporting the victim across state lines for sexual activity.

Henry is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000.

News release issued by the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Wheatland, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to his role in a sex-trafficking conspiracy in which a young, mentally deficient woman was coerced into being a sex slave for several years while she was tortured in a trailer home located in a wooded area in Lebanon, Mo.

Dennis Henry, 51, of Wheatland, formerly the postmaster of Nevada, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dean Whipple to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Henry also pleaded guilty to transporting the victim across state lines for sexual activity.

By pleading guilty today, Henry admitted that he engaged in sex with the victim, who is identified in court documents as "FV" (female victim), and participated in torture sessions with FV that would last for hours. According to Henry, FV was subject to the most extreme forms of torture he had ever seen. Henry saw pictures of FV's vagina sewn shut, which he was told was a form of punishment. Punishment also included locking FV in a cage. Henry never asked FV if she needed help and never offered to assist her in any way.

Henry met FV in 2004, when she was 18 years old. According to today's plea agreement, Henry believed that FV had been neglected. She also appeared developmentally delayed for someone her age. She did not know how to think for herself. She also took long periods of time to think and comprehend something and had a difficult time keeping up with conversations. Henry saw that FV did not know how to eat with a knife and a fork, and he taught her how to use silverware.

In 2006, Henry helped transport FV to California for a sexually explicit pornographic photo shoot. The sex toys, machines and devices filled the trunk and backseat of the car, with Henry, FV and another person crowded into the front seat. Henry drove most of the way from Missouri to California, where they stayed in a dirty motel room that was located in front of an alley filled with trash, needles and drug paraphernalia.

According to Henry, FV became scared when they arrived in California. When she saw the crank phone that was used to administer electric shocks, she withdrew and "melted." Henry found FV crying in a room. FV told him she hated the crank phone and was worried she would not be able to take the pain. Henry provided approximately $1,400 for this trip to California. At a later date, he provided another $500 for a return trip, which he did not join.

Henry also admitted that he visited FV at a Lebanon strip club where she was forced to work.

Co-defendant James Noel, 45, of Springfield, has also pleaded guilty to participating in the conspiracy to commit sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion. Noel admitted that he was one of the customers who sexually abused and tortured FV. Noel watched the victim being tortured and sometimes operated torture devices himself beginning in 2006, when she was approximately 20 years old. For example, Noel knew that FV hated being electrocuted with a crank phone (which was wired inside FV's vaginal and anal openings and to her toes), which he described as "extremely painful," but he used it on her anyway.

Both of the defendants' plea agreements require them to cooperate with the government, including providing information or testifying at trial. Neither plea agreement provides any credit to the defendants for substantial assistance.

Under federal statutes, Henry is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia L. Cordes, Paul Becker and John Cowles. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.

Updated February 24, 2011 at 5:00 PM CST:  One of five men accused of torturing and exploiting a young Missouri woman has plead guilty to his role in the conspiracy.

James Noel, 45, of Springfield, was accused of paying Edward Bagley, Jr. of Lebanon for sex and torture sessions with a woman who lived with Bagley as his sex slave.

On Thursday Noel plead guilty to a charge of sex trafficking conspiracy in U.S. District Court in Kansas City. 

Updated October 25, 2010 12:30 PM CST:  The wife of a man accused of keeping a young woman as a sex slave says the woman took part voluntarily.

Ed Bagley faces 11 federal charges in the case that accuses him of forcing the woman to participate in sex torture activities.

Four other men are charged including the Nevada, Mo. postmaster, Dennis Henry of Wheatland., Kansas.

He is charged with conspiracy and sex trafficking among others.

But details have emerged raising questions about the accuser including her posing for a pornographic magazine and her work as a strip club dancer.

Federal officials allege Bagley began torturing the woman when she was a 16 year old runaway.

Updated September 28, 2010 3:45 PM CST:

A federal judge has denied bond for a Missouri man accused of sex trafficking involving a young woman police say was held as a sex slave.

Dennis Henry, age 50, of Wheatland, was the postmaster in Nevada when he was charged earlier this month.

He is accused of conspiracy, sex trafficking, transportation for sexual activity and the sexual torture of a woman who was mentally challenged.

Henry told the judge he believed the woman had consented to the physical and sexual torture.

Federal officials began investigating the case in February 2009 when a 23-year-old woman was hospitalized and treated after she was nearly killed in torture session.

Officials say the woman's captor, Edward Bagley, age 43, committed brutal sexual and physical acts on the woman starting when she was a 16-year-old runaway.

All five men charged in this case are being held without bond.

Updated September 17, 2010 4:45 PM CST: 

A fund is set up to help a woman authorities say was used as a sex slave and tortured for several years.

Edward Bagley is charged with sexually and physically abusing the woman since she was 16.

Authorities say Bagley sexually tortured the woman and charged other men to do the same while recording and broadcasting the abuse online.

Dennis Henry, the former Postmaster in Nevada, Missouri, is accused of being an accomplice to Bagley along with three other men.  Henry is suspended without pay.

On Friday the Kansas City Alliance Against Human Trafficking announced it has set up an account for the female victim in this case.

To make a donation the Alliance asks you to put "Female Victim (FV) - United States v. Bagley, et al." on the memo line of any checks sent.  Make checks payable to "Kansas City Alliance Against Human Trafficking (KCAAHT)".  Mail checks to Kansas City Alliance Against Human Trafficking, P.O Box 29110, Kansas City, MO 64152.

Updated September 14, 2010 03:00 PM CST:  A former Nevada, Missouri postmaster appears in court for his role in a commercial sex trafficking conspiracy case.

Dennis Henry, as well as James Bagley and James Noel plead not guilty to the accusations against them on Tuesday.  The three men also waived their detention hearing.

The men and two other suspects are charged for their roles in the torture and sex trafficking of a young mentally challenged woman.  The federal indictment lists extensive sadomasochistic acts caught on video and broadcast over the Internet to paying customers.

Henry, Bagley and Noel will be held in federal detention without bond until their trial, scheduled for October 25.

Updated September 10, 2010 02:55 PM CST:  The U.S. Postal Service says a former Nevada, Mo. postmaster has been suspended indefinitely without pay after being indicted for his role in a commercial sex trafficking conspiracy.

Dennis Henry, 50, of Wheatland, Missouri has been with the postal service since 1979.

Now, Henry and four other men were indicted by a grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri this week.

Henry is accused of taking part in the torture and sex trafficking of a young mentally challenged woman.  Henry was the Postmaster in Nevada at the time the crime reportedly took place.

Federal officials began investigating the case in February 2009 when a 23-year-old woman was hospitalized and treated after she was nearly killed in torture session.

Officials say the woman's captor, Edward Bagley, 43, committed brutal sexual and physical acts on the woman starting when she was a 16-year-old runaway.

The federal indictment lists extensive sadomasochistic acts caught on video and broadcast over the Internet to paying customers.

Court documents say Bagley mutilated the woman's genitalia, and at times locked her in a dog cage while shocking here with homemade torture devices.

All five suspects, including Henry, are being held in federal custody without bond.

Henry will be in court next Tuesday for a bond hearing.

News release - issued September 9, 2010:  From the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that four southern Missouri men and a St. Louis, Mo., man have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a commercial sex trafficking conspiracy. The indictment alleges that a young, mentally deficient woman was sexually abused and tortured for several years in a Lebanon, Mo., home, and forced to work as an exotic dancer at local strip clubs.

"The allegations contained in this indictment are among the most horrific ever prosecuted in this district," Phillips said. "The sexual torture suffered over a period of years by the victim is highly disturbing.

"The Human Trafficking Rescue Project is specifically designed to address the problem of human trafficking from every direction," Phillips added. "We are providing the victims of human trafficking with the protection and support they need. At the same time, as this indictment illustrates, we are prosecuting both the supply and the demand, both the traffickers and their customers."

Edward Bagley, Sr., 43, and Michael Stokes, 62, both of Lebanon, Mo., Dennis Henry, 50, of Wheatland, Mo., James Noel, 44, of Springfield, Mo., and Bradley Cook, 31, of St. Louis, Mo., were charged in an 11-count indictment that was returned under seal by a grand jury in Kansas City on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of the defendants. Henry is the postmaster general of Nevada, Mo. Stokes is a national representative for Disabled American Veterans.

The federal indictment alleges that, from December 2002 to February 2009, Bagley coerced a female victim, identified as "FV," to become a sex slave and sexually tortured her. Bagley allegedly advertised online that FV could be sexually tortured during live online sessions or in person. The indictment states that Stokes, Henry, Noel and Cook participated in this conspiracy as customers who paid Bagley to sexually abuse and torture FV. The indictment also alleges that Bagley forced FV to work as a stripper and kept the proceeds from that work.

The federal investigation began after Bagley allegedly suffocated and electrocuted FV during a torture session to a state of cardiac arrest on Feb. 27, 2009. FV, who was 23 years old at that time, received emergency medical treatment and was hospitalized.

According to the federal indictment, Bagley enticed FV, a 16-year-old runaway who suffered from mental deficiencies, into his trailer home in December 2002. Bagley promised FV, who had grown up in foster care homes, that he would help her to become a model and a dancer; she was given her own bedroom and provided with clothes and food. Bagley allegedly gave FV marijuana and ecstasy, showed her images of pornography and sadomasochism activities, and began sexually abusing her.

Bagley began sexually torturing FV in February 2004, according to the indictment, when she turned 18 years old and Bagley had her sign a "sex slave contract," which he convinced FV legally bound her to him as his slave for the rest of her life The indictment cites numerous allegations of a variety of sexual acts, torture, and mutilation over a five-year period.

If FV attempted to stop the activity or cried for help, the indictment says, Bagley escalated the torture. Bagley allegedly threatened to kill FV and demonstrated to her that he could do so by keeping numerous guns in the home. Bagley shot animals that FV cared for in front of her, the indictment says, and bragged about the bodies he had already buried in the woods behind the trailer home. Bagley also threatened to bury FV alive, the indictment says, and showed her a video demonstrating how he intended to do it.

Bagley had FV tattooed to mark her as his property, the indictment says, including a bar code on her neck, a tribal tattoo on her back with the letter "S" to mark her as a slave, and the Chinese symbol for slave on her ankle.

Between February 2005 and February 2009, Bagley tortured FV on live Webcasts on the Internet. Noel paid Bagley $300 to watch Bagley torture FV, and to sexually abuse and torture FV. Henry and Stokes also sexually abused and tortured FV, and watched Bagley torture FV. Cook sexually abused and tortured FV and downloaded streaming Internet video of Bagley torturing FV.

Stokes gave Bagley steaks, cigarettes, coats, clothing, lighters and cash. Henry and Stokes paid approximately $2,900 for Bagley to transport FV to California in December 2006 for a photo shoot in which FV performed sexual acts. Henry accompanied Bagley on the trip. Stokes paid Bagley $300 for a torture session, and also gave him money to build a home-made device to sexually torture FV. Cook gave Bradley a hard drive with sadomasochism and torture videos downloaded from the Internet.

In addition to the criminal conspiracy, each of the five defendants is also charged with one count of commercial sex trafficking and one count of using the Internet to facilitate the unlawful activity.

Bagley is also charged with forced labor trafficking and document servitude. The federal indictment alleges that Bagley forced FV to work as a stripper and exotic dancer at adult entertainment clubs from June 2007 to February 2009. Bagley allegedly earned approximately $112,200 from FV's work. According to the indictment, Bagley punished FV with torture and physical and sexual abuse for failing to be a top earner at the adult entertainment clubs where he had her dance and strip. Bagley allegedly confiscated FV's identification documents, including her state-issued identification card, birth certificate and Social Security card, at the time he had her sign the "sex slave contract."

Bagley is also charged with using the Internet for enticement, enticement to travel for sexual activity, conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance to a person under the age of 21 and being a drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Bagley and Henry are also charged together in one count of transportation for sexual activity. Cook is also charged with one count of being a drug user in possession of firearms and ammunition.

The federal indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Bagley to forfeit to the government any proceeds obtained from the alleged offenses, as well as any property used to commit the alleged offenses, including $112,200 allegedly obtained by the forced labor trafficking of the victim, two computers, sex toys and paraphernalia and torture devices and 11 firearms. Cook would also be required to forfeit three computers, a hard drive, two Xbox 360s and seven firearms.

Under federal statutes, a conviction for commercial sex trafficking carries a penalty of a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole. A conviction for either commercial sex trafficking or forced labor trafficking that involves aggravated sexual abuse carries a maximum penalty of life in federal prison without parole.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia L. Cordes. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Human Trafficking Rescue Project.