Jayden Parker Sever — the 20-year-old son of Heber City Police Chief Parker Sever — was taken into custody this week on two first-degree felony charges, attempted rape and object rape.
According to court documents, the incidents occurred sometime between Feb. 1 and March 6 when Jayden was employed at Spring Gardens Senior Living. The Utah Attorney General’s office is investigating the case.
“An allegation had been received that the defendant had made an admission to a relative of inappropriately touching a resident,” the declaration of probable cause reads.
Parker Sever has not answered The Park Record’s request for comment, but he indicated to other media sources that Jayden first came to him with an admission, and he alerted the Attorney General’s Office of his son’s crimes.
He’s also indicated that though he loves his son, he’s horrified at what he’s done.
“Sever disclosed sexually abusing two elderly, female adults in the memory-care unit. The defendant provided explicit details of the abuse,” the document states. “The defendant said he has struggled with ‘lust’ for several years. At some point while working at the facility, he began having thoughts of committing sex acts with a resident, and was ‘curious’ about what it would be like. … Eventually, he followed through on these impulses.”
Given the residents’ difficulty remembering events, the document alleges Jayden thought he could abuse them without repercussions.
The alleged incidents involved two residents, one of which Jayden committed felonious sexual acts with approximately eight times. The other victim “had difficulty speaking and required assistance with her daily living needs.”
Investigators spoke with Spring Gardens employees and learned that both of the victims are experiencing “the last severe stages of dementia” and can’t participate in interviews.
Jayden was fired from the facility in March for unrelated reasons, but not before telling a coworker about what he had done.
According to court records, Jayden’s waiver hearing is scheduled for July 31, and his case is under the jurisdiction of Utah Fourth Judicial District Judge Jennifer Mabey.