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HEBER CITY — A Heber City man was arrested and charged with rape, sodomy and aggravated kidnapping after police say his girlfriend sent her sister a text message saying she didn’t think she would live through the night.
Virsel “VJ" Daley, 57, is accused of beating his live-in girlfriend to the point of injury on multiple occasions. He was charged Friday in 4th District Court with one first-degree felony count each of rape, sodomy and aggravated kidnapping, in addition to two counts of aggravated assault, a second-degree felony.
The sister of Daley’s alleged victim forwarded a text message to the Heber City Police Department that stated in part, “I don’t think I will live through the (night).”
“Only you and the family know, so if they find me dead in the (morning), you know why. Sis, I am so scared! I (love) you,” the text reportedly read in part.
A Heber City police officer arrived at the home of the alleged victim Thursday evening. The woman reported being abused over the course of a month and said she and Daley had been dating for about a year and were living together.
The woman showed police bruises on her on her head, face and throat, and said they were inflicted by Daley, according to court charging documents.
“(The victim) advised she still has ringing (in) her ears, blurry vision, headaches, and can’t think straight,” charging documents state. "(The victim) explained she felt as though if she did not tell (Daley) what he wanted to hear that he was going to kill her.”
“(The victim) advised she still has ringing (in) her ears, blurry vision, headaches, and can’t think straight. (The victim) explained she felt as though if she did not tell (Daley) what he wanted to hear that he was going to kill her.” -charging documents
The woman also indicated she was assaulted and “advised that she was pretty much raped,” according to the charges.
Police say the woman’s statements are consistent with bruising found on her body at Heber Valley Medical Center.
Daley was arrested without incident Thursday near his home and booked into the Wasatch County Jail. He reportedly declined to speak with police.
Charging documents depict Daley as a paranoid boyfriend.
The woman reported that at some point in the previous month, “(Daley) woke up in the middle of the night and began arguing with her. … (Daley) believed (his girlfriend) was drugging him and sneaking out at night. (The woman) also explained (Daley) believed she was an expert chemist or had black magic and pumped chemicals into the house to knock him out so she could sneak out.”
The woman also told police Daley took her against her will to Main Canyon Road, where he beat her unconscious, according the charges. She additionally reported being forcibly raped in the apartment she and Daley shared.
The woman said Daley controlled her in other ways, such as selling her truck without her consent and taking away her Social Security checks.
Daley’s criminal record in Utah dates back to 1986 and includes convictions for drug possession and fleeing from police. He pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and unlawful detention in a domestic violence case in February 2014.
Charging documents say a previous domestic violence victim of Daley's was found dead “under suspicious circumstances in which (Daley) was the last person to see the victim alive.”
Daley’s current case is being held before 4th District Judge Roger Griffin. His next court date is currently unscheduled, with bail set at $1 million.
