Woman Sentenced to 219 Years For Running an Incest Sex Ring

A woman who helped run an incestuous child sex ring in Alabama for years was sentenced to 219 years in prison today, the maximum penalty in her case and an effective life sentence.

Wendy Holland, 35, was convicted last month of a host of charges, including sodomy and sexual abuse, the AP reports. She "showed no emotion" during the sentencing, which reportedly ensures she'll serve at least 50 years before an opportunity for parole arises.

The horrifying details via Alabama.com:

Holland and Brownlee were both convicted by separate Baldwin County juries for sex crimes late last year. In both cases, victims testified about the horrifying sexual acts they were involved in since young ages.

Prosecutors have since said the sexual abuse spanned at least three generations within the same family and that the defendants, in some of the cases, might have been victims themselves more than 30 years ago.

Teresa Heinz, an assistant Baldwin County District Attorney, said after last month's conviction of Holland that victims viewed the sexual abuse akin to everyday activities, like going to the grocery store.

Despite the de facto life sentence, the case isn't exactly over. Holland still faces sentencing on other charges, and the family of one abused girl presumed to be dead is still looking for closure.

"We know she's been behind Brittney's disappearance and she knows where Brittney is," the girl's stepmother tells Alabama.com. "Even though this doesn't bring Brittney to us today, we know this is a victory for Brittney."

[image via AP]