Justice can be slow, but in the case of William and Zachary Zulock, it landed with the weight of a thousand years. Actually, exactly 100 years for each of them. No parole. No second chances.
Walking through the details of the William Zulock and Zachary Zulock trial isn’t exactly pleasant. It’s heavy. It’s the kind of story that makes you want to hug your kids a little tighter and maybe double-check who’s living on your block. But people are searching for it because the "House of Horrors" moniker given by prosecutors wasn't just hyperbole for a headline. It was a literal description of what was happening inside an upscale home in Oxford, Georgia.
Basically, the case centered on two men who adopted two young brothers and then proceeded to put them through a living nightmare.
The Digital Trail That Ended Everything
Most of these cases start with a whisper or a neighbor seeing something weird. Not this one. This started with a "cyber tip" from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Basically, someone uploaded something to a Google account that triggered an alarm. That IP address led straight to Walton County.
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When investigators from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office started digging, they found a guy named Hunter Lawless. He was downloading child sexual abuse material (CSAM). But Lawless wasn't just a consumer; he was a link. He pointed the finger at "Zach Zulock."
Honestly, the amount of evidence was staggering. We aren't talking about a few fuzzy photos.
- Over 7 terabytes of digital data.
- 14 days of interior surveillance footage from inside the home.
- Graphic text messages and social media posts.
- Cell phone videos of the actual abuse.
Think about that for a second. 7 terabytes. That is an astronomical amount of data to sift through. It took the GBI Cyber Crimes Center months to categorize and analyze it all. The footage from the home security cameras was particularly damning because it showed the abuse happening in various parts of the house. It wasn't an isolated incident; it was a lifestyle.
The Guilty Pleas and the "Legal Issue" Trial
By the time the William Zulock and Zachary Zulock trial was supposed to really kick off in full, the evidence was so overwhelming that both men folded. But they didn't do it at the same time.
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William Dale Zulock, 34 at the time of sentencing, pleaded guilty first in August 2024. He copped to six counts of aggravated sodomy, three counts of aggravated child molestation, two counts of incest, and two counts of sexual exploitation of children.
Zachary Jacoby Zulock, 36, followed suit in October 2024. He pleaded guilty to most of his charges—aggravated sodomy, molestation, and pandering. However, there was a weird snag. He pleaded not guilty to the incest charges. This led to a very brief bench trial before Judge Jeffrey L. Foster on what the District Attorney, Randy McGinley, called a "purely legal issue." Essentially, the defense tried to argue a technicality regarding the definition of incest as it applied to adopted children.
The judge wasn't having it. He found Zachary guilty on those counts too.
Why 100 Years Actually Means 100 Years
In many criminal cases, a "life sentence" or a long term doesn't actually mean the person stays behind bars forever. Parole boards happen. Good behavior happens.
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Not here.
On December 19, 2024, Judge Foster handed down the sentence: 100 years in prison. Because of the specific nature of the aggravated sexual offenses in Georgia, they are ineligible for parole. For all intents and purposes, they will die in the Georgia Department of Corrections.
District Attorney Randy McGinley was pretty blunt about the whole thing. He noted that the victims—who were in third and fourth grade when the arrests happened—would never have to worry about these men being free again.
The Network Involved
It wasn't just the Zulocks. This case cracked open a small ring of depravity.
- Hunter Lawless: Sentenced to 20 years (12 in prison) for sexual exploitation. He cooperated with the state.
- Luis Vizcarro-Sanchez: Sentenced to 60 years (15 in prison) for pandering and computer theft. He was also required to testify if the Zulock case had gone to a full jury trial.
Looking Forward: The Reality of Adoption Safety
The William Zulock and Zachary Zulock trial has sparked a lot of conversation about how these men were allowed to adopt in the first place. They were seemingly a "success story"—Zachary worked in banking, William was a government employee. They had a nice house. They passed the background checks.
It’s a terrifying reminder that "looking the part" doesn't mean much. The victims were adopted through a Christian special-needs agency, which adds another layer of heartbreak to the situation.
If you are looking for actionable takeaways from this tragedy, it’s about vigilance.
- Digital Monitoring: The only reason these kids were saved was because of digital footprints. Agencies are getting better at tracking IP addresses associated with CSAM, but it's a constant battle.
- Reporting: If you see something, say something. The tip that led to Lawless eventually saved two boys from a "house of horrors."
- Support for Victims: The DA mentioned the "inspiring strength" of the two brothers. Resources like the National Children's Alliance provide specialized therapy for kids who have endured this kind of trauma.
The case is officially closed as of early 2025, with both men beginning their century-long stay in the state system. The victims remain in protective custody, finally away from the cameras and the "dark desires" that defined their early years.
To stay informed on local safety and legislation regarding child exploitation, you can monitor the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children or your local District Attorney’s public releases for updates on similar high-profile sentencings.