Four men face felony charges after they allegedly took turns raping a 9-year-old girl while her mother was smoking methamphetamine in a garage, and the young victim's grandmother on Sunday spoke to express outrage and disgust over the allegations.
According to a statement of probable cause filed March 30, the alleged assault occurred Easter Sunday at a home in Vernal, Utah.
The 9-year-old victim was with her mother at the home, and the mother was hanging out with a friend she met while incarcerated in jail. As the 9-year-old girl slept on the couch, her mother and that friend went into the garage and get high on methamphetamine.
When the mother returned, her daughter was on the couch but her clothes were in disarray and she seemed upset and wanted to go home. The next day, the girl reported that four men inside the home had taken her into a bedroom before taking turns raping her and then sodomizing her.
The girl reported that while one of the men was raping her, he told her he would kill her if she ever told anyone about what was happening.
The girl's mother notified police, who responded to the home. One of the four alleged rapists was identified by the victim from a photograph, and 36-year-old Larson James RonDeau was taken into custody.
RonDeau told police that the other three men had traveled to Montana for personal business along with the woman who the girl's mother had been there to visit, Glynda RonDeau. He told police he wasn't sure when they would return to Utah.
“I want hardcore punishment for what they have done to this child, because that shouldn’t happen to anybody,” said the victim's grandmother. "I want justice taken care of."
The woman, who was identified only as "Elizabeth" to protect the little girl's identity, spoke to KTLA sister station KSTU on Sunday night.
“My granddaughter doesn’t deserve to go through this," Elizabeth said. "I’m very, very disgusted with people like that."
According to a press release from the Uintah County Sheriff's Office issued Sunday, the other three men accused of the rape were arrested March 31 and April 1. Those men are 20-year-old Josiah RonDeau, 29-year-old Jerry Flatlip, and 26-year-old Randall Flatlip.
Officers executed a search warrant and located evidence relating to the sexual assault, such as bloodstained bedding, as well as marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Larson RonDeau was advised of his Miranda rights and agreed to answer questions without an attorney present, according to police. He verified the girl was in the home during the time when the alleged assaults occurred, but denied any involvement in the incident.
The police statement says he, "did proffer the other three men could have been involved, or responsible, but not him."
Larson RonDeau was booked into the Uintah County Jail on one count of rape of a child and one count of sodomy of a child. Both charges are first-degree felonies.
The other three men have also been booked into jail and face one count each of rape of a child and sodomy of a child as first-degree felonies.
Elizabeth told KSTU she wants those men held accountable.
"They need to understand: You do not let people like that get away with anything," she said.
Uintah County Sheriff's Office stated Sunday the 9-year-old victim is being cared for in state custody rather than remaining in the care of her mother at this time.
“Very heinous alleged crime that took place," said sheriff's Corporal Brian Fletcher. "Our investigators have worked very hard in order to make sure that the victim is taken care of.”
He added that the age of the girl made the crime even more troubling.
“The victim's rights are paramount here, especially when we're dealing with children," he said. "It affects all of us when these crimes occur."
