Robert Duane Brians has pleaded guilty to attempted murder after a harrowing incident in which he tried to kill his two-year-old twin daughters by driving off a cliff into the Pacific Ocean.
On June 13, 2020, Brian, 51, intentionally veered his vehicle off Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, plunging it into the sea while holding his daughters, Hailey and Aubrey, on his lap. The twins had been abducted from his parent’s home following a planned visit the previous evening.
Before the incident, Brians sent alarming messages to his estranged wife, Jenna Brians, indicating his intention to harm the children. One message read, “The girls are going to heaven, and I’m going to hell to wait for you,” and he had posted on Facebook saying, “Tonight, I’m sending my babies to heaven.”
Police were alerted by Jenna around 4:30 a.m. after receiving these distressing messages. Although Jenna initially feared Brian would drive off the Coronado Bridge, police later spotted him near Sunset Cliffs. Moments later, his truck went over the edge and into the ocean.
Heroic K9 officer Jonathan Wiese, using a 100-foot dog lead as a rope, rappelled down the cliff to rescue Brian and the girls. He found Brian holding the twins in his lap. Wiese and other officers managed to pull them to safety. Hailey was in critical condition with a brain bleed and vertebrae fractures, while Aubrey sustained minor injuries. Both girls eventually recovered fully.
In addition to attempted murder, Brian has pleaded guilty to child abuse, domestic violence, kidnapping, and burglary. As part of a plea deal, other charges were dropped. He is scheduled to be sentenced to 31 years in prison next month.
Jenna had previously shared a family photo on Instagram, reflecting on the happiness of their life together. Brian and Jenna were married in November 2017.
