A California man, aged 51, is facing a potential 31-year prison sentence after confessing to the attempted murder and kidnapping of his twin two-year-old daughters. Robert Brians admitted to driving his pickup truck off a cliff into the water below following a dispute with the children’s mother. Despite the vehicle flipping and landing upside down in the water, Brians and his daughters miraculously survived the incident with severe injuries.
Brians pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder and kidnapping, as well as single counts of child abuse, burglary, and domestic violence. The plea was a result of a deal between Brians’ defense attorney and prosecutors, leading to the dismissal of several lesser charges.
The incident began in the early hours of June 13, 2020, when San Diego Police Department officers started searching for Brians. His ex-wife had called 911, reporting that Brians had taken their twin daughters from his parents’ home without her consent.
After abducting his daughters, Brians sent his ex-wife a series of threatening text messages, indicating his intention to kill the girls. One chilling message read, “The girls are going to Heaven and I’m going to Hell to wait for you.” Brians’ ex-wife testified in court that he also threatened to drive himself and their children off a cliff.
Brians was spotted on a traffic camera driving at speeds of up to 70 mph before plunging off the Sunset Cliffs in San Diego’s Point Loma community. At the time of the incident, Brians was out on bond for a separate felony charge.
Detective Aletha Lennier of the San Diego Police Department testified that Brians had posted on Facebook a few hours before the incident, stating, “Tonight, I’m sending my babies to Heaven.” Police were able to locate Brians in the Sunset Cliffs area using his cellphone. Patrol officers spotted his vehicle just before he drove off the cliff.
A veteran canine officer, Jonathan Wiese, responded to the scene and used a 100-foot dog leash to descend the cliff and reach the water. He found Brians and the girls, and managed to bring all three back to shore safely. For his bravery, Officer Wiese was awarded the Carnegie Medal.
Brians’ plea deal includes a 31-year sentence in a state correctional facility. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20.