Two Walton County Men Sentenced to Life for Sexually Abusing Adopted Boys

Two men from Walton County, Georgia, have been sentenced to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole for the sexual abuse of their adopted children. Zachary and William Zulock pleaded guilty to numerous charges, including aggravated child abuse, sodomy, incest, and sexual exploitation of children. Their sentencing took place on December 19, 2024, before Judge Jeffrey L. Foster.

William Zulock pleaded guilty in August 2024 to six counts of aggravated sodomy, three counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of incest, and two counts of sexual exploitation of children. His partner, Zachary Zulock, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to two counts of aggravated sodomy, three counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of incest, two counts of sodomy, three counts of sexual exploitation of children, and two counts of pandering for a person under 18.

The investigation began in July 2022 when the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child sexual abuse material (CSAM) being uploaded from a Walton County IP address. After tracking the source of the material, investigators traced it to the Zulocks’ residence. At the house, they found disturbing evidence of ongoing abuse.

The Zulocks, who had adopted two boys years earlier, admitted to sexually abusing the children during interviews with investigators. Authorities seized over 7 terabytes of electronic evidence, including surveillance footage and cell phone records, which documented the abuse. Investigators also found graphic text messages and social media conversations that discussed the crimes.

In addition to the Zulocks, two co-defendants were involved in the case. Hunter Lawless pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children, and Luis Vizcarro-Sanchez was convicted of pandering and unrelated computer theft charges.

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District Attorney Randy McGinley praised law enforcement and prosecution teams for their hard work in securing justice for the victims. “These two defendants truly created a house of horrors and put their extremely dark desires above everything and everyone else,” McGinley said. “William and Zachary Zulock will now spend 100 years in prison without parole. This all but guarantees that the victims will not have to worry as they grow older about their abusers being free.”

The case also highlighted the strength and resilience of the victims. McGinley commended them for their bravery and said their courage throughout the investigation and prosecution process had been inspiring.

The case involved cooperation from several agencies, including the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, the GBI Cyber Crimes Center, Walton County DFCS, and the District Attorney’s Office. The collaboration among these teams helped ensure that justice was served and sent a strong message about the seriousness of child abuse.

In addition to the sentence, the case has sparked conversations about the importance of protecting children from sexual exploitation and the need for continued efforts to prevent such crimes. Investigators hope the case will serve as a warning to others who may be involved in similar offenses and will encourage people to report suspected abuse.

While the sentencing brings some sense of closure to the victims, the impact of the abuse on their lives remains. Authorities are committed to supporting the victims as they move forward and heal from their traumatic experiences.

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