In a harrowing case that has left many in disbelief, Jessica Harms and her boyfriend, Dan Fus, have been charged with child torture after their five-year-old daughter was discovered suffering from severe malnutrition and neglect. The shocking details emerged after Fus brought the child to a hospital in West Valley, Utah, where doctors found that she weighed as little as a 16-month-old, despite her age. The girl, who reportedly could not speak, was found to have been eating non-food items such as Play-Doh and her own feces in a desperate attempt to survive.
The investigation began on August 30 when Fus informed medical staff that his daughter was failing to gain weight and had been engaging in alarming behaviors, including scavenging food from trash bins. Medical professionals at the Center for Safe and Healthy Families reported that the child suffered from severe malnutrition, chronic constipation, and had even resorted to eating her own waste due to starvation.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the girl had been subjected to food deprivation and psychological maltreatment. Detectives revealed that the child had been locked out of the refrigerator and pantry to prevent her from accessing food. Harms’ 13-year-old son recounted that he was forced to sleep in a hammock chair to keep an eye on the little girl, who had no bed and slept on the floor with only a sheet. The boy also reported that it was his mother’s idea to install locks on food storage areas, indicating a troubling family dynamic and a deliberate effort to restrict the child’s access to food.
Both Harms and Fus admitted to the police that they had locked the refrigerator and other food sources, claiming it was necessary because the girl would allegedly steal food. However, the evidence pointed to a far more sinister reality: the child’s desperate measures to find food in the household, including eating frozen carrots and moldy bread, while her adult caregivers seemingly neglected her basic needs.
The girl’s condition was so severe that she was hospitalized for 16 days, during which she gained nearly 9 pounds after being properly fed. Notably, the affidavit highlights that the girl was not enrolled in school and was isolated from her peers, further exacerbating her psychological neglect.
Both Harms and Fus appeared in court, where they were ordered held without bail. Prosecutors are expected to pursue maximum penalties under Utah’s child torture laws, which carry severe sentences. Experts suggest that the case could lead to multiple charges, as each act of neglect and deprivation could be classified as separate offenses.
This case has drawn attention to the broader issues of child welfare and the responsibilities of caregivers. Observers have noted the alarming trend of families locking away food from children, which is a clear indication of deeper problems within the household. Legal experts have expressed hope that this high-profile case will serve as a warning against child maltreatment and lead to justice for the young victim.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the girl’s future remains uncertain. Advocates for child welfare are calling for immediate support and intervention to help her recover from the traumatic experiences she has endured. The community watches closely as the case develops, hoping for a resolution that prioritizes the safety and well-being of the child.
