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SALT LAKE CITY — A woman police say was violently assaulted in Pioneer Park in December is speaking out against her alleged attacker, saying he deserves the death penalty.
Paul David Vara, 30, was charged last month with object rape in connection with a Dec. 14 attack in Pioneer Park, 350 W. 400 South. The victim, who spoke with KSL-TV Thursday night but wished to remain anonymous, said she's lucky to be alive.
Vera also faces charges of aggravated murder, object rape and forcible sex abuse in the killing of Kristine Marie Gabel, 45, on Dec. 18 in a Fairmont Park bathroom. Police say Vara strangled Gabel with string, mutilated her and disemboweled her during that attack.
"That's not right for him to hurt people like he did me and her," the woman said. "It's probably happened to more people, too.
"I would like to see him have the death penalty," she said.
That's not right for him to hurt people like he did me and her. It's probably happened to more people, too. I would like to see him have the death penalty.
–Victim
The woman recalls little from the night of Dec. 14 at Pioneer Park. She said she "had a couple drinks" with friends, and she suspects that someone spiked her drink with some kind of drug, causing her to black out. When she woke up, she was in an emergency room being prepped for surgery.
The woman likely has two years' worth of surgery ahead of her, she said. Her bowels were damaged during the attack, resulting in injuries that are both painful and embarrassing.
"I'm depressed," she said. "I just want to sleep all the time. I feel like I can never be the same again."
The woman said DNA collected from her and Gabel following the attacks led police to Vara.
Because of their experiences, the woman said she feels connected to Gabel, and she's compelled to make sure Vara is brought to justice.
"I'm going to do everything I can," she said.
The woman also said she opted to speak out about her attack in hopes that it will prevent others from finding themselves in similar circumstances.
She warns people to be cautious of strangers, even those who call themselves your friends.
"I don't want anyone to go through what I went through," she said. "Don't go with them if you don't know them. Don't take a drink of something that they give you. Stay away from people you don't know."
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Story written by Jared Page, with contributions from Sarah Dallof.
