Boy says dad took him to 'see Jesus'

PROVO — A 7-year-old boy took the stand Wednesday in a Provo courtroom, testifying that his dad said he was going to take him to "see Jesus" after driving him and his two sisters to a cliff at Point of the Mountain.

The trial of Christopher Young, 36, started Monday in 4th District Court. He is charged with three counts of attempted aggravated murder and three counts of second-degree felony child abuse.

Prosecutors say on April 18 Young took his three children, then ages 6, 4 and 2, and threatened to kill himself and them by driving his car off the mountain.

Young's 6-year-old son, Gabe, testified about what happened when he and his dad left their Provo apartment with Gabe's two little sisters.

"Did your dad ask you if you wanted to see Jesus?" asked Donna Kelly, a Utah County prosecutor.

"Yes. I said no," Gabe said.

Kelly asked why.

"Because I was trying to save my sisters," he replied.

Gabe's sister, now 5, also came into the courtroom to testify — but was taken out seconds later when she began crying.

Members of Bikers Against Child Abuse attended the hearing to support the children.

However, defense attorney Richard Gale asked Judge Steven Hansen to rule that the men take off their biker vests, which have labels with the group's name, skulls and a depiction of a fist with rings across the knuckles spelling out BACA.

Gale said he wanted to ensure his client had a fair trial and didn't want the jury intimidated or swayed by the presence of individuals who work with abused children.

"We're not here to intimidate anybody," said BACA member John Fillmore. "We're here for the kids."

The jury also got a chance to visit the spot where Young allegedly stopped the car on the mountainside in Lehi. The attorneys agreed seeing the area would be more helpful than relying on dozens of pictures.

In April, Young took the kids to the cliff after telling their mom and his wife, Adella Young, he was taking them to the park.

He then called his wife and said they weren't coming back and the next time she saw them would be in heaven, according to Adella Young's testimony.

Police tracked the cell phone calls and eventually found Young and returned the kids to their mother.

However, Gale asked Adella Young if Christopher Young was emotionally distraught because she had told him earlier that day that she didn't love him and was contemplating a divorce.

"Wasn't he going on and on saying that he wanted to work things out? Stay together?" Gale asked.

"Yes," Adella Young said.

The trial resumes today.

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