Former Heber caregiver sentenced to prison for sexual assault of elderly residents

HEBER CITY, Utah – A former caregiver at a senior living facility in Heber City has been sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting two elderly residents in the facility’s memory care unit.

Jayden Parker Sever, 20, who previously worked at Spring Gardens Senior Living, pleaded guilty in December to two first-degree felonies: object rape and attempted rape. On Wednesday, a judge sentenced Sever to five years to life for object rape and three years to life for attempted rape.

The case first came to light after Sever admitted his actions to his father, Chief of Police in Heber City Parker Server, a relative and later voluntarily spoke to law enforcement. Prosecutors said that between February and early March 2024, Sever assaulted two female residents, both suffering from severe dementia.

Court documents revealed that one of the victims, P.M., 82, cried out in pain as Sever attempted to assault her but was interrupted when another employee entered the room.

During an initial interview with investigators, Sever reportedly admitted to struggling with lust for several years and confessed to having thoughts about engaging in sexual acts with a resident. The charges alleged that he believed he could easily assault a resident and escape consequences because of their inability to resist.

The charges also allege that he attempted to rape another 82-year-old resident while assisting her in the bathroom, but ceased when she refused. Sever purportedly told investigators that he changed his clothes right before another employee entered the room, interpreting it as a “sign from God.”

The Utah Attorney General’s Office pursued the case under its Medicaid Fraud and Patient Abuse Division. Special Agent Rebecca Kaufmann, who led the investigation, stated in court filings that Sever “acted on his impulses” and believed he could assault the residents “and get away with it” due to their conditions.

Sever had been held in custody at Utah County Jail since his arrest. Following his sentencing, he was transferred to the Utah State Prison, where he will serve his sentence.