New Utah laws will help hold child abusers accountable, district attorney says

SALT LAKE CITY — Norlin Cruz died at just 6 years old after suffering years of systemic torture and abuse by his mother.

While his mother, Reyna Flores-Rosales, was convicted of felony child abuse and sentenced to prison in 2023, Cruz's story has lingered with some prosecutors as one of the worst cases of child abuse they have ever seen. A judge was so disturbed by the "despicable" abuse that he recommended the mother never be paroled from prison.

For Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill, the case is one of several instances where existing laws fell short in being able to prosecute the full scope of harm that is inflicted by child abuse.

SB24, a bill amending laws regarding child abuse and torture, was passed in the recent legislative session. The bill mandates harsher penalties for abusers and expands existing definitions of what is considered child abuse.

"We know about physical abuse, we know about sexual abuse, but we have no room for torture and the emotional and psychological abuse and the harm that it does and is perpetrated," said Gill, who planted a tree in Norlin's memory in January. "As a result of this passage of Senate Bill 24, for the first time now in the state of Utah, we will also be able to define an injury based on emotional and psychological abuse that children undergo. And as a result of that passage of that bill, we'll be able to, for the first time, hold offenders accountable."

The passage of SB24 is one of several efforts made in the state to protect and support victims of child abuse, according to Gill. In a press conference Thursday for Child Abuse Prevention Month, he explained that the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office not only prosecutes crimes but supports survivors and advocates for legal change as needed.

Ashley Vigil was a 31-year-old woman who suffered from Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition that caused her to only grow to the size of an average 8-year-old. Her disability rendered her unable to walk or speak, leaving her unable to report her stepfather when he began to sexually abuse her. When Vigil's abuser was caught and underwent legal proceedings, prosecutors identified a deficit in the law where there were protections for children and the elderly but not for disabled adults, according to Gill.

While Vigil was not a child at the time of her abuse, advocates argued that her disability caused her to have a childlike mentality so the crime should be considered a more severe offense. This resulted in the passage of HB127 — also known as Ashley's Law — during the recent legislative session that increased the minimum prison sentence for those convicted of raping an incapacitated adult to 10 years. Prior to this change, the law did not include language that protected incapacitated adults in relation to sexual offenses.

In addition to advocating for laws protecting children and vulnerable populations, Gill explained that the district attorney's office also facilitates programs that help survivors cope after being abused or witnessing abuse.

The Utah Division of Child and Family Services reported 8,791 confirmed victims of child abuse or neglect in 2024. Camp HOPE is a program that the district attorney's office launched in 2020 to help survivors and witnesses create new memories and progress in their healing following traumatic events involving child abuse.

"We make a three-year commitment to each child to take them to summer camp where they can finally push out those terrible memories with good experiences," Gill said. "This is how we're interfering with intergenerational trauma being passed from one family down to the next family band. That's based on our work with the University of Oklahoma, with Dr. Chan Hellman, who has created a hope index that talks about building that resiliency in these children so they are not defined by the trauma that they've experienced."

The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office also works closely with the county Children's Justice Center, a resource for victims and families to receive support and work with trauma-trained professionals to seek justice and counseling. Friends of the Children's Justice Center is a nonprofit organization that supports the program by raising awareness of child abuse in the community and fundraising donations.

Sierra Chao, executive director of Friends of the Children's Justice Center, explained that for Child Abuse Prevention Month, the organization will decorate the center's walls with one butterfly for every dollar donated to the program.

"Butterflies are a universal symbol of hope and transformation, representing the child's journey from trauma to healing," she said. "We ask our community to stand up and be a friend to these children. Imagine the good that we could do if just a portion of our community donated a single dollar; we would fill the wall with butterflies, each one representing hope and healing for a child survivor."

Chao and Gill encourage those interested in supporting survivors to visit the Friend of Children's Justice Center website to donate funds and learn more about child abuse in the community.

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