Man Convicted of Raping Ten-Year-Old Receives Forty-Year Sentence

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Child Abuse Unit obtained a forty-year sentence against a man who raped a ten-year-old child. Cody Lynn Wyrick, 25, was convicted of Rape of a Child, Rape, and Aggravated Sexual Battery. Judge Steve Sword sentenced Wyrick to serve forty years in prison without the possibility of parole.

In a two-day trial in May, Assistant District Attorneys Sarah Keith and Tammy Hicks explained to the jury that from March through July, 2012, Wyrick was a houseguest babysitting the ten-year-old victim and siblings. Wyrick used a game of hide-and-seek as a chance to isolate the victim in a bathroom, where he raped and sexually assaulted the child. On a second occasion, Wyrick sexually assaulted the same victim in a bedroom. The victim disclosed the rape five years later. Knox County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jason Myers interviewed Wyrick who confessed to both events.

“Delayed disclosure in these cases is commonplace, but it can pose challenges to prosecution,” said DA Charme Allen.”Thanks to the bravery of this victim and the hard work of law enforcement, this perpetrator is now behind bars.”

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.