NEPHI, UT – A Utah man convicted of kidnapping his former girlfriend and her three young children received four consecutive sentences of 15 years to life Thursday after a judge described the crimes as among the most disturbing the court had seen.

David Remley, 37, was found guilty of three counts of child kidnapping, one count of aggravated kidnapping, multiple domestic violence charges, and other related offenses. The verdict came nearly a year after Remley was arrested in Nevada in August 2024 with Brittany Deal, 28, and her children, ages 9, 5, and 2, who were reported missing from Utah just hours earlier.

According to court records, Remley ignored a protective order that had been issued against him prior to the abduction. Investigators said this was not the first restraining order that Remley had violated, adding to a documented pattern of escalating violence.

Authorities launched a search after Deal and her three children disappeared in August 2024. On the day of the abduction, Remley arrived at Deal’s home and persuaded her and the children to join him, claiming they were going on a family road trip. He then drove them for eight hours without making any stops or bringing necessary supplies for the journey.

Chain restraints were later recovered from Remley’s vehicle, raising questions about the level of planning involved in the abduction. While the victims were ultimately found physically unharmed in Nevada thanks to a quick law enforcement response, authorities said the traumatic experience left lasting scars.

During the ordeal, Deal later told investigators, Remley made alarming statements to her and the children, including saying they were “going to Heaven,” which prosecutors cited as evidence of the mounting danger during their captivity.

Remley was swiftly taken into custody in Nevada without resistance. After his arrest, officials revealed that he continued to issue threats against Deal during phone calls from jail. In court, the prosecution played several recorded calls in which Remley made violent remarks about his former partner.

At sentencing, Deal’s mother addressed the court, sharing how her daughter’s life and her grandchildren’s wellbeing have been deeply affected. She recalled her grandchild saying, “My mom is not the same since David hurt her, and I miss my old mom.”

Remley’s sister also delivered an emotional statement, expressing heartbreak over her brother’s actions and calling him “the monster Mom warned us about.” She emphasized the pain that his crimes have brought to both his family and the victims.

Along with the four consecutive kidnapping sentences, Remley received additional, lesser sentences for other offenses, which the judge ordered to run concurrently. The court underscored that Remley’s past behavior and repeated disregard for protective orders factored heavily into the punishment.

Since the ordeal, Deal has been working to recover and rebuild her life with her children. A fundraising campaign was set up by supporters to assist the family as they continue to heal from the traumatic experience and adjust to life after the kidnapping.