Girl's condition precarious (11 year old Utah girl beaten and raped)

MIDVALE — An 11-year-old girl remained in critical condition Tuesday following a brutal beating and rape by a man who abducted her from her bedroom and then assaulted her in her back yard.

Calling it the worst beating he's ever seen, Dr. Ed Clark, medical director for Primary Children's Medical Center, said the girl underwent nine hours of surgery for scalp lacerations and extensive multiple facial fractures and lacerations.

Clark said it's too early to tell if the girl will have permanent brain damage or even what her outlook is for the next 48 hours. Doctors for now will handle her treatment on an hour-by-hour basis, he said.

Javier Sickler, 28, remained in the Salt Lake County Jail on Tuesday for investigation of attempted homicide, aggravated rape of a child and aggravated burglary. The Salt Lake District Attorney's Office was scheduled to screen the case Wednesday.

One of the biggest questions surrounding the beating is why. Sickler told police he has periods of "blackouts" and can only remember going to the girl's house to visit her father. He told police the next thing he remembered was being arrested.

Sickler has known the girl's father since high school, Midvale police detective John Salazar said. The two apparently lost touch for several years and then renewed their friendship a few weeks ago, he said.

Sickler showed up at the girl's house about 1 a.m. Monday, entering through an unlocked side door, Salazar said. He first went to the basement and into the room where the girl's brother, 10, was sleeping. The brother told police he pretended to sleep but Sickler talked to him anyway, asking where his father slept, Salazar said.

After Sickler got no reply he apparently left the house. During that time, the frightened young boy went upstairs to sleep in his sister's room. About 30 minutes later the assailant apparently went to the girl's room. This time, the brother really was asleep and the assailant grabbed the young girl, Salazar said.

One of the girl's neighbors heard suspicious noises coming from her back yard at 1:42 a.m. and called police. When officers arrived they found a man in the process of beating and sexually assaulting the girl. The assailant ran, but a K-9 unit caught Sickler a short time later.

Monday morning, police reported the girl was beaten with a hammer. Investigators updated their report later in the day to say they weren't 100 percent sure what instrument was used in the beating. Police were still looking Tuesday for the weapon used in the attack.

The girl was flown by medical helicopter to Primary Children's, where surgery was started about 4:30 a.m. and wasn't completed until about 1:30 p.m. Police said if it hadn't been for the original 911 call by the neighbor, the girl probably would be dead.

A fund has been set up to help with the cost of the girl's medical care. Donations may be made at any Zions Bank.

Sickler was arrested in 1992 and 1993 for retail theft and drug possession. In 1994 he was arrested for investigation of aggravated rape, but prosecutors declined to file charges and sent the case back to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office to collect more evidence.

The kidnapping is similar to the abduction of Elizabeth Smart, who was also taken from her bedroom early in the morning of June 5. But Salazar said there does not appear to be any connection between the two cases. Nevertheless, he said both the FBI and Salt Lake police were expected to question Sickler as a precaution.

You still haven't come near to supporting your original contention. But feel free to continue on your little jihad. Go Captain Keyboard USA!

What happened to you? Why so quiet, Mr. Reparations Man?

My original assertion was that "In an Islamic country, people would be preparing to stone the little girl for tempting the poor, innocent man."

I have presented documented evidence that peace-loving Islamists would willingly stone a grown woman for being raped. You evidently believe there is a difference between stoning a grown woman for being raped and stoning a 10 year-old girl for being raped.

Could you please explain the difference to me?

You still haven't come near to supporting your original contention.

I have presented documented evidence that peace-loving Islamists would willingly stone a grown woman for being raped. Your contention is that, even though Islamists are ignorant, backwards and evil enough to stone a grown woman for being raped, they are not ignorant, backwards and evil enough to stone a young girl for being raped.

No wonder you advocate "reparations." You are completely devoid of logic.

Not to mention integrity.

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