A 3-year-old Holladay girl who died after allegedly falling down a flight of stairs may actually have been the victim of repeated sexual abuse and torture at the hands of the adults with whom she lived.
Evidence seized Monday by Salt Lake County sheriff's detectives included pornographic material and homemade videotapes depicting sexual bondage and restraints, along with ropes, whips and other sexual devices that state medical examiners say could have produced the type of injuries found on the girl's body, according to a search warrant filed in 3rd District Court.Rebecca Bluff, 3, died Oct. 21 at Primary Children's Medical Center. An autopsy report has ruled her death was caused by "multiple blunt force trauma caused by non-accidental trauma," according to a search warrant affidavit.
The child's body indicated she had suffered injuries to her buttocks, back, vaginal area, legs and back, including evidence of sexual assault.
Additionally, state medical examiner Dr. Maureen Fricke found evidence of sexual assault and "injuries to the buttocks and feet were consistent with torture," the document reads.
Bluff's mother, Ferosa Bluff, 26, and her two housemates - Andrew Fedorowicz, 45, and Su-san-nah Fedorowicz, 44 - were ar-rest-ed Oct. 22 and booked into the Salt Lake County jail for investigation of child abuse-homicide, a first-degree felony. All three remain in jail.
Given the medical examiner's findings about the girl's cause of death, Salt Lake County prosecutors plan to screen the case for additional or more serious charges, Salt Lake County sheriff's deputy Peggy Faulkner said.
Andrew Fedorowicz told deputies he had spanked the child repeatedly during the previous two weeks, in an attempt to discipline her. Rebecca Bluff, Fedorowicz said, had "tried to kill her 2-year-old sister . . . and had to spank her for this."
He also told police that after Rebecca fell down the stairs he tried to revive her by placing her in a bathtub. At that point, he said he noticed blood coming from the child's vaginal area, the affadavit states.
Ferosa Bluff called 911 about 3:15 p.m. Oct. 21, saying her child was not breathing. Paramedics responded to 1287 E. Vine Gate Drive (6150 South) and found the girl unresponsive and not breathing. The girl was taken by medical helicopter to Primary Children's Medical Center, where she died.
Medical examiners said the injuries to Rebecca's body were consistent with sharp force trauma injuries and forced restraint, and that the child was most likely injured while lying face down.
An addendum to the search warrant revealed items found inside the residence included computer-generated and photographic images of nude women in bondage, a magazine titled "Naughty Neighbors - Young Girls Special," whips, chains and restraining straps, and four homemade videotapes depicting adults involved in sexual acts. Many of the items found could produce the types of injuries found on Rebecca's body, the medical examiner said.