Crime Fix with Angenette Levy - Shocking Twist in Reality Star's Child Rape and Dog Sex Case

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

Tony McCollister faces 18 charges related to allegations that he drugged and raped his girlfriend's young daughter and had sex with his two dogs. Erica Grove faces similar charges and has pleaded not guilty. But now McCollister's lawyer has filed documents with the court saying he is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. Law&Crime's Angenette Levy goes through what the insanity defense means and the latest in the disturbing case in this episode of Crime Fix — a daily show covering the biggest stories in crime.Host:Angenette Levy  https://twitter.com/Angenette5Guest: Dr. Debbie GoodmanCRIME FIX PRODUCTION:Head of Social Media, YouTube - Bobby SzokeSocial Media Management - Vanessa BeinVideo Editing - Daniel CamachoGuest Booking - Alyssa Fisher & Diane KayeSTAY UP-TO-DATE WITH THE LAW&CRIME NETWORK:Watch Law&Crime Network on YouTubeTV: https://bit.ly/3td2e3yWhere To Watch Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3akxLK5Sign Up For Law&Crime's Daily Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LawandCrimeNewsletterRead Fascinating Articles From Law&Crime Network: https://bit.ly/3td2IqoLAW&CRIME NETWORK SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawandcrime/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LawCrimeNetworkFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawandcrimeTwitch: https://www.twitch.tv/lawandcrimenetworkTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawandcrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is going to be your Miranda warning. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. That was ex-reality star Tony McAllister being loaded into a cruiser as he was investigated for raping and drugging a child and having sex with dogs. Now McCallister faces a long list of charges and we're getting a look at what his defense will be at trial. I'll explain it all. I'm Ann Jeanette Levy and this is crime fix. Tony McAllister is accused.

of some very serious charges involving the rape and drugging of a five-year-old girl and the use of his two dogs in sex acts. And when he goes on trial for the crimes, his attorney will tell the jury that he is not guilty by reason of insanity. Now, I'm going to get into what that means very shortly. But first, let's talk about McAllister's co-defendant, Erica Grove. It's his girlfriend, and Grove faces very similar charges. Grove has pleaded not guilty to the charges. And Grove has pleaded not guilty to the involving the rape and drugging of this little girl and the sex with McCollister's two dogs. Now, we learned a lot about her during her arraignment back in February. Erica's plea is not guilty today, Judge.

Erica is in fact a victim here. She herself is a victim of her ex-boyfriend, Tony McAllister. In this investigation, or at least during the investigation, her parents were advised by investigators that Erica was coerced to a certain extent, largely coerced to do some of the things that she's now been indicted for doing. Now that is what Erica Grove's attorney told the court at her arraignment. Her attorney said that Tony McAllister abused her. He also said that Grove worked as a nurse anesthetist and was an Army veteran. Between 2010 and 2013, she was stationed at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii,

and she provided direct patient care and a mixed medical served on the mixed medical surgical ICU. Then, still in the military between 2011 and 2012, she was stationed in the Philippines as a critical care flight nurse. As the flight nurse, she provided stabilization care to combat trauma casualties during operation and during freedom. Still in the military between 2013 and 2016, she was stationed with the 47th Combat Support Hospital at Joint Base in Lewis McCord, Washington, where she was the head nurse for what they call

a rapidly deployable combat support hospital in ICU. Between 2016 and 2019, she was stationed at Bethesda, Maryland, at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Hospital. where she was a clinical staff nurse in the surgical intensive care unit. And in this role, she was also selected to serve in the White House, in the White House medical unit, providing critical care and non-critical care to both the first and second families. Grove's lawyer read through a long list of commendations Grove had received. Reading off of her DD-214, it appears that she's received multiple commendations.

They include the meritorious service medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Along with the commendations, Groves' lawyer said she had passed a polygraph related to the charges that she faces. Erica took and passed both a polygraph test and an ID Tech test to show that she has never physically, sexually assaulted her daughter. Those results were provided to the investigators. It's important to note, polygraph results are not admissible at trial, but they're often used as an investigative tool by law enforcement. Erica Grove is now free on bail, and she has to follow really strict electronic monitoring guidelines.

So let's move on to Tony McAllister, the co-defendant who Erica Grove calls her abuser. McAllister was on a short-lived reality show about swingers in the suburbs in 2015. A&E canceled neighbors with benefits after just two episodes. On December 23, 2025, Sheriff's deputies descended on a home in Warren County, Ohio, and took Tony McAllister and Erica Grove into custody. What is his preference? Little kids, boys and grace. Put her car and then she can sit in your car.

She's your daughter. Okay. I'll let this up here a little bit. And then hers. All right, we're gonna walk back here a little bit. You got anything on you at all? No. Okay.

That's it. Okay. But like I really do not want to ask them to pee in when you guys the cars. Hey, man, it is what I do. I know. I'm not trying to let you know. It's all good.

But yeah, we're not going to be able to let you pee for a little bit. Yeah, that's good. Yeah, that's good. You know, I'm going to head up on this car real quick. Do you care if I pat you down and go inside your pockets? Spread your legs real wide for me. Yeah, that's going to happen. I'm like, I, it's going to have a squat for me.

I'm not going to be talking with you, but I am going to go ahead and read this for you. to go ahead and read this for you because you're being detained, okay? Yeah. This is going to be your Miranda warning. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to talk to the lawyer and having them present with you while you're being questioned. You cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

One will be appointed to represent you before any questioning if you wish. You can decide it any time to exercise these rights, not answer any questions or make any statements. Do you understand each of these rights? Yes. Okay. Man, it helps if you lean, swing your legs out. Yep. I'll just get my leg out first.

Yeah, there you go. Now, slide your butt towards the middle. There you go. Yep, keep sliding. Keep sliding. There you go. Now, if you want to sit like that, you need help?

I don't know. I'm going to do this in my shoulder. There you go. If you lean that way, you're back that way, it takes some pressure off your wrists. I guess I got to do with it. at the top. He's going to happen. Like, it's going to happen. There's nothing to do about it.

All right. Hang on one second. Now, the deputy goes to the trunk to get something because he really doesn't want Tony McCullister going to the bathroom in the back of his cruiser and making a big mess. Like I said, you're not going to be able to go to the bathroom, but I can slide this under you. Yeah, I don't want everybody mad at me. That's all good. I mean, it is what it is. I'm not going to be the one cleaning it out anyways. Good? As good as it's going to get? Yeah, yeah.

Okay. What did you have shoulder surgery? Like what shoulder surgery? Right shoulder or rotator cuff. Rotator cuff. Is it bothering you right now? Yeah. All right, step out real quick.

What second pair of cuffs help you? Probably. All right. Turn him face that way. Can I get a unit over here so I can double cuff this male? He's got shoulder problems. Alright, thanks boss. No, I got a second set. I just need somebody over. I got him.

Yeah, A-hunter is coming over here. If I can get a light real quick. I'm going to let this one go, put it right up on this car. Don't move it at all. Just put it straight up on the car. Pop that one up. All right, go ahead and bring that one back down. While I'm facing this way, there you go. And like I said, if you pee, you pee.

But we're not going to let you go. We're not going to be able to let you guys back. unless someone higher up than me decides you're going to be peeing in the car if you got to pee. Got him pop a squat. Is that any better? Yes. Okay. Cool. All right.

You need me to grab anybody else? That's everybody. After several minutes, the deputy goes back to check on Tony McAllister. You're okay for right now? Okay. Just check down in like five minutes. Yep, I'll check on you in five minutes. If you have a problem, tap on this window.

Okay, I'll be standing right out here. But I will check on you in a couple minutes, but you don't need a squad for right now. I have to check my blood pressure. You want a squad? Just have him check my blood pressure. All right. 889 to dispatch, you're still copying. Can you go ahead and have a squad start my way for a male with blood pressure issues?

He's wanting to get checked out. I just have an intersection. No, this intersection should be good. I believe it's Garden View Circle and Lavender Way. I'll be right here. All right, we got a squad on the way to check you out, boss. Sir? Yeah.

Did you hear me? Okay. Okay. I just wanted to make sure you weren't unconscious or nothing. We got a squat on the way. McCollister's dogs, Roscoe and Rocky, were seized from the home. Tony McCallister was booked into the jail and later indicted on 18 counts, including rape, gross sexual imposition, corrupting another with drugs, child endangering, and sex with animals. During his arraignment, McAllister's lawyer argued that he should be released on bail. He does have a place to live. He is on Social Security disability. He has no real record to talk about. I think we even saw on his record a fishing violation,

and that's kind of the extent of his run-ins with the law. I think, Your Honor, would be appropriate to release him on his own recognizance with electronic monitoring. He can turn over his passport. He does not appear to be a flight risk in any way, especially with electronic monitoring and its ties to the community. So that would be what I would suggest as an appropriate bond. At the arraignment, McCallister, he didn't enter a plea, and now we know why. He is now pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, according to documents that his attorney

recently filed. That's an affirmative defense, and that means that McAllister isn't saying he didn't do what he's accused of doing. He's saying he was so mentally ill at the time. that he did it that he couldn't appreciate that what he was doing was wrong under the law. The judge presiding over the case has ordered that McCollister undergo a mental health evaluation. So I want to bring in Dr. Debbie Goodman. She is a criminologist and she's wonderful.

Dr. Goodman, thank you so much for coming on. I'm sorry that it's about something so ick and disturbing. But, I mean, these are the cases we cover. Tony McAllister, it faces some very, very serious charges in the state of Ohio. I mean, rape, you know, corrupting another with drugs, gross sexual imposition, you know, having sex with animals, you know, the two dogs. I mean, he is accused of with his girlfriend raping this little girl, drugging her and then having, you know, images of it. So what is your response, first of all, to the allegations in this case, and then we'll move on to other topics? Certainly. Well, good morning. And Jeanette, and it's always a pleasure and honor to join you. And yes, what a difficult case this is to unpack. But let's just first start with really what this speaks to. It aligns with it's so vulgar. It's vicious. It's vile. Now, the question becomes with all of these allegations,

Did this person know what he was doing? Did he know what he was doing is wrong? So right out of the box, I will say yes. And here's why, because the data and Jeanette is so sparse when it comes to insanity. And we know that when this case goes to trial, that's apparently going to be his posture and position, that he didn't know what he was doing and he didn't know what he was doing was wrong. But I don't believe that. And here's why. because even if we just did a very quick social experiment with the viewers, and we asked them to take 10 seconds and think about the worst of the worst criminals that would come to mind clearly names like Dahmer and Bundy, Raider, Gacy, Koberger. And interestingly, of all those names, was anybody declared insane?

No. So when we think of the worst of the worst criminals, when they know what they're doing and they know what they're doing is wrong, I think even in a case like this, as horrible and horrific as it is, you know, we're talking about rape and child molestation. And also, the factor about the animals, believe it or not, Anjanet, in criminology, we do have a category of crime called zoophilia, zoophilia. And what it really speaks to is the sexual attraction.

animals. So that's the thought. And then, of course, for an individual who would take action, the action in so doing is bestiality. So we can just start the... So the dogs, let's talk about the dogs first before we unpack everything else, because as you mentioned, there's a lot to unpack here. The dogs, we have their names, Roscoe and Rocky, and these two dogs that we saw earlier in the show, you know, or in the back of the vehicle being photographed. He has relinquished these dogs. He was the sole owner of these dogs. These were Tony McAllister's dogs.

And his attorney has filed paperwork saying, look, he's given up the dogs. Well, of course he has. He's in jail. He can't own these dogs. And he's accused of using them in sex acts with a little girl. So I'm like, of course, I mean, the dogs were seized anyway. He was not going to get these dogs back. What's the point of even filing that?

Well, it just speaks to, again, Anjanet, the depravity. What we're really speaking about when it comes to these types of high profile cases and criminals who are capable of doing these vile acts, they want to participate in their behaviors. Yet it's only if and when they get caught that now they start. going through and potentially maneuvering, let's say, the legal process. But even with the dogs, the animals, of course, would be tested for the DNA. What type of DNA? Well, again, just like what it would be with a human. Any type of blood, urine, semen, prints, hair fibers. These are the issues that would also point to accountability and culpability. And that's going to be very important. because the question becomes how blameworthy is this individual when it comes to the child,

the little girl, and when it comes to the dogs. So both crimes are just of such a vile magnitude that we know and understand how difficult it is to even fathom and wrap our own heads around this. And that's what we do in criminology. We try to answer the why, but I do believe that the individual knew what he was doing. It just speaks, Anjanette, to a sexual deprable. These individuals become attracted to the most vulnerable members of society to include, you know, children, potentially elders. One wouldn't even think it's in the wheelhouse of possibility to look at an animal towards sexual attraction. But yes, it happens. And the data is so sparse, by the way.

You know, I like to check data analytics anytime we have a conversation. Maybe at or near last year, Ingenet, in 2025, 11,000. 11 cases that were reported. But you see, my concern as a criminologist is these are only the cases we know about them. Right. All of the cases, right? Exactly. That go unreported.

Yeah, I think it's probably just in covering these and we see them in the news and we talk about them. I think the number, unfortunately, is probably a lot higher. And so, you know, the reason they found out about this in the first place is because they got a tip. about this the sheriff's deputies did. I want to talk about this not guilty by reason of insanity plea. And I think we should break this down a little bit because basically this is an affirmative defense. And what that means is that the person is saying,

I did it. You know, I did it. But because I was mentally ill at the time and because that mental illness impacted my ability to appreciate. you know, how wrong this was or, you know, that this was wrong, I'm not guilty because of that by reason of insanity. And I want to put up on the screen the exact verbiage of the, of that statute in the state of Ohio. And it says that basically a person is not guilty by reason of insanity

relative to a charge of an offense only if a person proves by a preponderance of the evidence in the manner specified in the section of the revised code that at the time of the commission of the offense, the person did not know as a result of a severe mental illness or disease or defect, the wrongfulness of the person's acts. They're saying severe mental disease or defect. Now, we know that this guy, it seems he wasn't really working, like he might have been on social security disability. I'm wondering severe mental disease or defect. I mean, that to me is conjuring up serious mental illness. And there is a serious mental illness statute in the state of Ohio that pertains to like death penalty cases and stuff like that. We're talking like bipolar disorder.

We're talking schizophrenia, stuff like that. So, but I mean, come on. Like you would have to be very mentally ill to understand that drugging a child and having her engage in sex acts related to dogs, like for you to not know that that was wrong, I mean, that's going to be a heavy lift, right? Because preponderance of the evidence, if we, so people understand, you know, beyond a reasonable doubt, that's like greater than 95%. So preponderance of the evidence, that's kind of like a little more than 51%, right? Right, right. No, it's an excellent point that you raise, and thank you for explaining that to the viewers, because we know, Angenet, also that the viewers may find interesting, is that the percentiles and percentages in our field of criminology and criminal justice of how many individuals actually have a successful insanity defense, and that's the outcome, it is less than 2%. So again, all of those names that we pointed to earlier, if those are,

people knew what they were doing and knew what they were doing is wrong. And even when we point to somebody like a Jeffrey Dahmer who anybody and everybody hearing the name would just absolutely find cringe worthy, yet even he knew what he was doing and knew what he was doing was wrong. So I believe it's going to be the same outcome here for Tony McAllister and as depraved as it all is, as evil as it is, as horrendous as it is, I think he would have done it again, Angenet, had he not gotten caught. You see, it's always those moments in time where they get caught, and now it's like, okay, now what? I don't want to go to prison for the rest of my life. So let me come up with something. And I think that's the something, but I just do not believe it's going to be successful

for either him or his girlfriend. Remember, she's involved too. Right. She is involved, and she is facing charges. And the thing that's really interesting to me is that she's a nurse anesthetist, and they are accused of drugging this child. And so when the cops showed up, Dr. Goodman, they were like saying on bodyworn camera, you know, that she was like the lesser actor in this, or at least that was their perception or belief at the time because she, I don't know, it was just their belief. They believed he was like the bad. the worst actor of the two. Now in court, you know, it's like the prosecutor was saying in court when they were arraigned

on these charges that, well, McAllister kind of stood by and watched this happen. Like he was there. He knew what was going on. So I'm like, oh, my God, are they like saying that she was like the main actor now? Like has it shifted? Because she, when they were first arrested, she was only charged. And I'm not saying only, but she was charged with the sex with the dogs. He was charged with other stuff and held on a much higher bond.

Then they were indicted and more charges were added against Erica Grove. So, you know, it seems like the prosecutors are thinking maybe that she was like more of a main actor now. That's interesting. But again, when we unpack both sides here, I think each of whom, had the intent, right? We go right down that list as we normally do. Did they plan it? I would say yes. Was there a level of premeditation? Yes. Was it willful? Was it with malice? So all of those issues are very important for each one. Now sometimes in our field, as we know, and we have co-defendants, is one more culpable than the other? Perhaps. But how do we determine that? Whose idea was it? Who had the idea? The fact that it's even an idea, you know, in criminology, we call it the mens rea, the thought of doing the crime. But nobody really knows what's in another's head, and Jeanette, unless it is expressed. So now if we have two co-defendants, let's say party A said to party B, gee, let's do, you know, XYZ. Certainly you would think somebody in that conversation

would say, are you crazy? Of course not. But the fact that the other party just hypothetically would go along with it, that truly does speak to their knowledge and their willful, and their intent to do it. So I really think both of whom are just, if these allegations are accurate and the violation and victimization, not only of a child, but also with these animals, it just has to yield penalty for both. You know, the allegations are horrific. And it's just really awful. There's going to be a hearing in April on this issue. So it'll be interesting. to see what happens for for this NGRI defense in in the court. Do you think, though, that Tony McAllister, you know, he will be evaluated by professionals and, you know, he's going to be assessed.

And so the court has ordered that evaluation. Do you think that, you know, this goes to trial? Do you think that we see him testify? Like, do you do you? Do you think that, you know, think he gets up on the stand in order to prove this defense? You know, that's another interesting aspect to this. And we know a lot of times how these trials go, depending on the actual credibility or lack thereof of the defendant, it's really a gamble. I almost think that just, you know, what we think we know of him, I almost feel like he'd want to take the stand and want to testify. but I do not think a jury would look toward him as somebody in any way, shape, or form as a productive member of society, as somebody who has been contributing and just had a mishap or a lapse

in judgment. I really think, should he take the stand, a jury would just be so shocked and sickened and startled by it all that it would really be in his disfavor. And I think there's going to be this. I think this is going to be like, he did it, she did it, she was the worst one, he was worse, he did it. Like, I think there's going to be some of that going on. And it's like, who's making a deal first, even though he's doing NGRI. I'll be interested to see how this pans out. At the heart of this is a little girl who the prosecutors are saying was raped and drugged,

which is horrific. I hope she's getting the help that she needs. Just awful. And then, of course, these dogs. It's sick. Dr. Debbie Goodman, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Thank you, and Jeanette. That is always my pleasure. Tony McAllister remains in the Warren County Jail on a $250,000 bond, but his lawyer is asking that his bail be modified or reduced so he can post it and be released. A hearing on his not guilty by reason of insanity defense, will be held in April. And we'll keep track of that for you and let you know what happens. And that's it for this episode of Crime Fix. I'm Annette Levy. Thanks so much for being with me. Remember, you can always catch us on YouTube. You can also watch and listen on Spotify. I'll see you back

here next time.