A man has been arrested for repeatedly sexually assaulting his severely disabled daughter. Brian Kenneth Urban was apprehended after the girl's mother installed cameras in the bedroom to monitor her seizures.
Brian, aged 51, pleaded guilty to five felony charges for assaulting his 31-year-old disabled stepdaughter, Ashley Vigil.
The 31-year-old woman suffers from a rare disorder called Rett syndrome, affecting fewer than 1,000 people in the US, which hampers brain development in girls.
'She's grown to about the size of an eight-year-old girl. She's unable to communicate,' explained Ashley's mother Paula Vigil, 49.
Paula, who takes care of Ashley full-time, is pushing for 'Ashley's Law' to protect vulnerable adults, like the laws safeguarding children and the elderly.
Despite Urban's admission of guilt, the victim and her family continue to grapple with the aftermath of his repeated assaults.
The disturbing truth about Urban's appalling actions came to light in October 2022 when Paula complained that Ashely's seizures had suddenly increased.
Ashley's doctor suggested Paula install cameras in her bedroom to monitor her mysterious seizures.
'Instead of capturing seizures, I captured him,' Paula revealed.
'Given her condition, she [Ashley] can't move. He had to undress her completely, move her to the couch, and remove her diaper to commit his actions. Then, he had to redress her and return her to bed, all to conceal his deeds from me.'
Paula believes the seizures were Ashley's body's way of pleading for help.
'Her body was convulsing, and she was crying for help in her own way,' Paula recounted. 'If not for those cameras, I would have been oblivious and without evidence.'
Following the harrowing discovery, Paula contacted authorities, leading to Urban's arrest by South Jordan police.
The offender is presently detained at Salt Lake County Jail, yet due to Ashley's age, there's no mandatory minimum prison term for Urban at the moment.
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| Brian Kenneth Urban |
Utah attorney Nathan Woodward came across Paula's story on Facebook and was deeply moved. He reached out to offer assistance to the family. "I simply want Paula and Ashley to know they're being heard. There's a significant gap in how our legal system is structured and enforced," Woodward stated.
Woodward elaborated that punishment severity for rape cases hinges on whether the victim is an adult or a minor. However, he noted a lack of consideration for an adult victim's mental capacity, leading to inconsistent sentencing practices for crimes against adults compared to children.
Paula highlighted the absence of a mandatory prison term for Urban, leaving the family uncertain about the outcome.
"Ashley is like an infant trapped in an adult's body. He victimized someone defenseless. A mandatory prison sentence should be in place, but there's this glaring gap in the system," Paula remarked.
Paula and Woodward are advocating for 'Ashley's Law' to address the needs of vulnerable adults within the legal framework.
The distraught mother recalled promising her daughter that she'd always be safe. She lamented, "He shattered that promise."
"Brian Kenneth Urban came into our lives under false pretenses. His facade convinced me. He led me to believe he cared for my girls and would protect them like I do. But little did I know, he was the threat we needed protection from," Paula expressed on Facebook.
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