Jonathan Allen Dunn, a 36-year-old resident of Roy, Utah, has been charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated sexual abuse of a child. The charges stem from an incident that resulted in the death of a toddler and serious injury to the child’s twin sister.
According to the court documents, Dunn, who had a prior conviction for child abuse in 2017, was looking after the twins on the night of December 20 when the assault began. The probable cause affidavit states that Dunn admitted to striking the children excessively, pinching them, throwing them onto a bed, and pushing them into a door frame. He also reportedly gave them children’s Tylenol and sleep medication.
The affidavit further alleges that Dunn pinched the genitalia of both children and hit their heads with a hard foam mallet and the butt of a Nerf gun. Dunn called emergency services on the morning of December 21 after discovering Aleister Kunzler unresponsive and his sister critically wounded. Police found Aleister lifeless on the porch and his sister on the couch with substantial facial bruising. Aleister was pronounced dead, and his sister was admitted to the hospital with a brain hemorrhage.
In the aftermath of the tragic incident, the community has rallied around the family. Shaylee Lindsey initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses, and medical bills, and provide support for Aleister’s sisters. The fundraiser has so far collected almost $10,000.
Dunn, who could potentially face the death penalty, has a history of child abuse. In 2017, he was given a two-year prison sentence for fracturing a child’s arm in 2016, and was released in April 2019. He remained on parole until December 2021, as per the Utah Department of Corrections.
This case has amplified concerns about the safety of children under the care of individuals with a history of abuse. The legal proceedings continue, with more details anticipated in the future.
