Father and His Girlfriend Charged with Child Torture
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced a first-degree felony child torture charge filed against both Daniel James Fivas and his girlfriend, Jessica Marie Harmes.
On August 30, 2025, Fivas went to the hospital with his five-year-old daughter, R.C., reporting she was not gaining weight and would eat her own feces. The Center for Safe and Healthy Families at Primary Children's Medical Center (SHF) administered care for R.C., noting severe malnutrition and growth failure. R.C. experienced medical distresses indicative of chronic malnutrition. R.C. was also bradycardic, which is described as a "potentially life-threatening symptom of malnutrition." R.C.'s weight at admission on August 30, 2025, was that of a 16-month-old child. At the time of the SHF report, R.C. was hospitalized for 16 days and gained approximately 8.8 pounds with consistent, scheduled meals.
SHF reported that a child of R.C.'s age is "still dependent on caregivers to provide food, shelter, clothing, safety, nurturing, and medical care. However, they are at an age that they can attempt to 'save' themselves from things like starvation by scavenging food or eating non-food items." SHF noted that a common late-stage manifestation of starvation is the ability to overcome revulsion and eat non-food in an attempt to sustain themselves, and that eating feces is likely due to starvation. SHF concluded that "to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, R.C.'s condition and findings were consistent with child physical neglect and child torture through food deprivation." Additionally, R.C. was not enrolled in school, which raised concerns for isolation, another form of psychological maltreatment.
13-year-old D.H. reported that he and his mom, Harmes, live in a one-bedroom apartment with his mom's boyfriend, Fivas, his stepsister, R.C., and his newborn little sister, A.Z. D.H. stated that R.C. was known to access the refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, which led his family to install child locks to prevent R.C. from accessing the food. D.H. said it was Harmes' idea to lock up the fridge and freezer. Post-Miranda, Fivas stated R.C. "likes to steal food," so they put child locks on the cabinets, refrigerator, freezer, and garbage. Fivas admitted he tried to give up custody of R.C. because she "rubbed him the wrong way" and that he "resented" her.
Post-Miranda, Harmes stated that when she and Fivas' families moved in together, she observed
that R.C. would "eat large quantities of food," and they were "hesitant to give her more food." Harmes said R.C. would "bulk up a little" when Harmes fed her food, but R.C. would "lose it again." Harmes said that R.C. was "really, really thin" despite "feeding her the same amount" as D.H. Harmes then reported that once she and Fivas found out she was pregnant, they tried to call DCFS to "give [R.C.] up [but DCFS] wouldn't take her." Harmes said that Fivas asked them to take custody of her because he didn't want her and didn't want to take care of her.
On Friday October 31, 2025, Fivas and Harmes were each charged with one count of first-degree felony child torture.
“Our children depend on us to care for them, as parents that is our responsibility. Those who do not fulfill this obligation will be held to account for it,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, “We appreciate the work of The Center for Safe and Healthy Families at Primary Children's Medical Center and the West Valley City Police Department for their investigation into this case. All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law."