Three people arrested, accused of severely abusing two children

SALT LAKE CITY — A man and two women from Salt Lake are now in jail on 19 different counts of aggravated child abuse of two brothers 

Laurie Hackett, 32, Randee Coon, 31, and Kerri Pavlica, 52, were arrested on Wednesday, July 13 after an investigation by the Special Victim’s Unit that began the day before.

Salt Lake City Police said they received information that brothers, one 6-year-old and one 17-year-old, were being hospitalized with what police called “multiple, serious injuries” after child abuse.

“During the course of about four weeks that they were with them, there were multiple instances where they were assaulted and abused,” said SLCPD Det. Michael Ruff. “Bruising, possible broken bones, some minor stab wounds, a possible burn injury. This was some pretty serious and horrific abuse that went on.” 

Police said their investigation revealed that, for the past four weeks, the children had been in the custody of the three adults who were arrested. The adults, according to police, all participated or knew about what police called “the assaults and abuse to the victims.”

Detectives with our Special Victims Unit have booked a man and two women into jail on 19 counts each of Aggravated Child Abuse.

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— Salt Lake City Police (@slcpd) July 14, 2022

“The mother, the parents of these children had left them in the care of people they knew,” Ruff said. “This wasn’t a stranger thing. It was some individuals they knew, that they had known for quite some time, and they needed some assistance taking care of the children a bit of time. Unfortunately, during that time these children were severely abused.”

The parents did not say how they knew the three that have been arrested, nor have they said where they went during their four weeks away.

Injuries to the children are extensive, and by Thursday morning, police said doctors continued to treat them.

Two of the adults are known to law enforcement. In 2018, according to a probable cause statement, Coon was booked into jail for disorderly conduct and intoxication. 

On two separate occasions in 2018, Hackett, according to probable cause statements, was booked for assault on a health care provider, disorderly conduct, intoxication, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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