WEST VALLEY CITY, UT – The walls of a seemingly ordinary Utah home hid a horrifying secret: a 5-year-old girl allegedly starved by her father and his girlfriend, forced into desperate acts to survive.
Authorities arrested David Fivas, 32, and Jessica Harmes, 44, charging them with child torture after what investigators described as prolonged and intentional deprivation. The grim details surfaced after Fivas arrived at a local hospital with the girl on August 30, reporting concerns about her weight and a disturbing habit of consuming her own feces.
Medical staff soon realized the extent of her suffering. The child’s weight mirrored that of a toddler half her age. Yet, after just over two weeks of scheduled meals and consistent care, the girl gained nearly nine pounds—a sign, police say, that sustained starvation, not a medical condition, was to blame.
Investigators noted that Fivas had gained custody when the girl was still an infant, and since then, her health steadily declined. In documented statements, Fivas described the child as chronically hungry, allegedly overeating until she became ill, and resorting to eating substances like Play-Doh and candle wax. To keep her from “stealing” food, the adults reportedly secured pantries and the refrigerator with child locks and accused her of being a thief.
Detectives concluded that the stringent restrictions were far from an attempt to address medical or behavioral issues. Instead, evidence indicated a long-term pattern of food being deliberately withheld. Fivas allegedly admitted to harboring resentment towards the child and treating her poorly, a fact corroborated by the physical evidence and an interview with another child living in the home, who appeared healthy and nourished.
The affidavit revealed that the little girl’s health sharply deteriorated over at least two years. Officers described the situation as so dire that the child endured late-stage starvation, in which extreme hunger compels the body to override natural revulsion, prompting victims to eat anything available, including their own waste.
Police believe the adults tried to mislead authorities by suggesting the girl was overeating, but detectives determined these explanations were attempts to conceal the cruelty carried out behind closed doors. The affidavit cited Fivas’ own admission that he sought to relinquish custody after Harmes became pregnant, but child welfare officials declined to remove her from his care.
Starvation was only one facet of the alleged abuse. Detectives found the child was made to sleep on the bare floor with just a blanket and kept out of school, a move police believe was meant to isolate her from the outside world. Testimony from a sibling further substantiated the allegations, officials said.
In a tense court appearance on Thursday, prosecutors described the case as deeply disturbing and pushed for Fivas to be held without bail, citing the severity and intent behind the abuse. The presiding judge agreed, highlighting the potential danger Fivas posed not just to his own children but to any others he might encounter. Harmes likewise remains in custody as the investigation continues.
State authorities have taken custody of the couple’s children as the criminal proceedings advance. Fivas’ next court hearing is scheduled for November 24.