A father who attempted to kill his twin daughters by driving them off a cliff was seen weeping in court after he was sentenced to 31 years in state prison.
Robert Brians, 51, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, child abuse, burglary and domestic violence.
On June 12, 2020, police located Brians at Sunset Cliffs, where they witnessed his truck accelerate rapidly before plummeting over a 30-foot cliff.
San Diego Police Officer Jonathan Wiese, bravely rappelled down the cliff to rescue the victims. All three survived with injuries.
Jenna Brians, the twins’ mother, said she had been waiting for this day for four years, KNSD reported.
Robert Brians, 51, has been sentenced to 31 years in state prison for attempting to kill his twin girls
On June 13, 2020, police located Brians at Sunset Cliffs, where they witnessed his truck accelerate rapidly before plummeting over a 30-foot cliff
‘It’s nice to finally have closure today, not just for myself, but for my daughters most of all, to know that their dad is taking responsibility for the horrific acts that he made that day, the choices that he’s made.’
Brians abducted twins Hailey and Aubrey from his parents’ house during a planned visit and drove off with them on June 12, 2020.
Jenna called police about 4:30 am on June 13 after getting a series of texts and calls from Brians ‘clearly stating she may not see her kids again’.
‘The girls are going to Heaven and I’m going to Hell to wait for you,’ one read.
Brians earlier made a Facebook post reading: ‘Tonight, I’m sending my babies to Heaven.’
His wife Jenna Brians called police about 4:30 am on June 13 after getting a series of texts and calls from Brians ‘clearly stating she may not see her kids again’
Jenna told the judge the twin girls, Aubrey and Hailey, were healthy and moving forward
Jenna believed her estranged husband was going to drive off the Coronado bridge, but police spotted him driving near Sunset Cliffs about 5 am.
Brians’ pickup truck swerved off the road and plummeted over the cliff. Miraculously, Hailey and Aubrey, who were sitting on his lap, survived the crash.
K9 officer Jonathan Wiese used a 100-foot leash as a makeshift rope to rappel down the cliff, with five other officers holding the other end. He then dived into the ocean to rescue the victims, finding Brian holding the girls in his arms.
Aubrey was clinging to his neck, crying, while Hailey appeared lifeless.
Brians was talking angrily about his estranged wife, saying he was going to die with the girls. Other officers lowered a backpack to hoist the girls up to an ambulance, while Wiese pulled Brian to shore.
Both girls suffered minor injuries, but Hailey had a brain bleed and compression fractures in her vertebrae and required breathing assistance.
Brians and his daughters were all saved by hero policeman Jonathan Wiese, who rappelled down the cliff and swam to the sinking car to drag them out of the water
They were admitted intensive care, but within weeks were happily playing at the beach and putting the ordeal behind them.
A GoFundMe has been set up toward the twins’ futures and has raised $18,260 toward its $25,000 goal.
Prosecutor Francesca Balerio condemned Brians’ actions, calling them ‘the epitome of evil’ as he attempted to harm his own children to get back at his ex-wife.
Brians’ public defender Manuel Avitia argued that he had already won the case as he and the girls survived.
However, the judge imposed a no-contact order, prohibiting Brians from communicating with his ex-wife or the girls. She added that the twins would be able to make their own decisions about their relationship with their father when they were older
Brians briefly thanked law enforcement and expressed his love and regret before the judge.
‘I love my babies, and I’m sorry,’ he said before the court.
