SPRINGFIELD, MO – A federal grand jury has indicted two Strafford, Missouri women in a disturbing case of alleged child sexual abuse and the production of child pornography. Mallory Nicole Bunch, 40, and Jessica Nicole Pickett, 34, are accused of participating in a long-running conspiracy to exploit two minor victims.
The five-count indictment, returned in Springfield, details allegations spanning from September 2, 2016, to May 23, 2024. The indictment replaces a previous federal criminal complaint filed against Pickett on June 11, 2024. Authorities allege the pair conspired with Thomas Bunch (deceased, formerly Mallory Bunch’s husband) in a polyamorous relationship to systematically abuse the children for the purpose of creating exploitative material.
According to an affidavit supporting the original complaint, Mallory Bunch allegedly used her cell phone to record the sexual abuse of one of the victims, identified as Minor Victim 1, at the behest of Thomas Bunch. These recordings were then allegedly sent to Thomas Bunch via text message. The current indictment charges Mallory Bunch with one count of using Minor Victim 1 to produce child pornography and one count of distributing that material.
Jessica Nicole Pickett faces separate charges, including one count of using Minor Victim 2 to produce child pornography. Disturbingly, she’s also accused of transferring obscene matter – specifically, 376 images and two videos depicting the sexual activity of Mallory and Thomas Bunch and Pickett herself – to Minor Victim 1 via an iCloud link. This represents a particularly egregious aspect of the alleged abuse, involving the direct exposure of the victim to the offending material.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan is prosecuting the case, which was a joint investigation led by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and the Webster County Sheriff’s Department. These agencies worked collaboratively to uncover the evidence leading to the indictment.
This case falls under Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative by the Department of Justice dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation. The charges are accusations at this point; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. A federal trial jury will ultimately determine their guilt or innocence. For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.
Related Federal Cases
- Warrensburg Man Sentenced for Child Pornography Collection · Missouri
- Independence Man Sentenced for Child Pornography · Missouri
- Branson EMT and Joplin Couple Indicted for Child Sex Exploitation · Missouri
- Mario Antoine Indicted in Pornography Fraud Scheme · Kansas
- Independence Man Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Distribution · Illinois
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
