A California father who intentionally drove his pickup truck off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean with his twin daughters inside was sentenced to 31 years in prison. Robert Brians, 51, pleaded guilty in August to charges including two counts of attempted murder, child abuse, kidnapping, domestic violence and robbery related to the 2020 incident, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors say Brian was consumed with anger during a divorce and custody dispute when he deliberately drove away from Sunset Cliffs, a well-known scenic spot, with his two-year-old daughters. The sentencing, which took place on Friday, September 20, followed a lengthy investigation into what the district attorney called an “unspeakable act.”
According to the court documentsBrian had taken the young children from his parents’ house in the middle of the night with the intention of killing them and himself. “Attempting to kill your innocent children to hurt your spouse is beyond despicable,” District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a news release. “I thank the lifeguards who located the accused and were able to save the young women from drowning.”
The girls’ mother, Jenna Brians, testified in a 2021 hearing that she had frantically texted her ex-husband, trying to locate her daughters. Just before the incident, Brians called her on FaceTime, said goodbye, and revealed his plan to fall off the cliff. “I told you, the girls are going to heaven and I’m going to hell to wait for you,” he texted, according to prosecutors.
Around 4:30 a.m. on June 13, 2020, Jenna called the police after receiving the chilling message. He stayed on the phone with Brians, allowing authorities to track his location. Within minutes, officers arrived at the scene and discovered Brians’ truck had already gone over the cliff. Emergency services acted quickly, pulling Brians and her daughters from the rubble and saving their lives.
During Friday’s sentencing, Jenna Brians expressed gratitude that her daughters survived the horrific event. “I am grateful that Robert is taking responsibility for his mistakes and is ready to serve his sentence,” she said, adding that the girls, now thriving, are on the road to recovery. “This has been a missed step toward healing for all of us,” he said, according to CBS 8.
Brians spoke briefly at the sentencing and thanked the first responders who saved his daughters. “I love my babies and I’m sorry,” she said, expressing remorse for her actions. As of September 26, Brians had not yet been registered as an inmate in the California prison system. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation did not immediately respond to questions about his transfer from prison.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or visit thehotline.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
If you suspect child abuse, call Childhelp’s National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.