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Man Who Likened Himself To Ted Bundy Allegedly Admits Sexually Abusing Kids In Mother's Care When He Was A Teen
Theodore Heaps, whose behavior a therapist reportedly once described as "very disturbing," has been charged with sexually abusing several youths in Utah when he was between the ages of 15 and 17.
A Utah man who reportedly "compared himself to Ted Bundy" has allegedly admitted to the sexual abuse and rape of several minors who were left under the supervision of his mother’s daycare facility two decades ago.
Theodore Joseph Heaps, 35, was arrested on Wednesday after reportedly telling police he had sexually violated multiple youths between 1998 and 2000, when he was between 15 and 17 years old, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
Heaps told detectives he had assaulted a 12-year-old girl and could not remember the name of a 6-year-old boy he had raped, according to court documents cited by the Tribune. He also told investigators he'd molested another boy multiple times over the two years.
He has been charged with two counts rape of a child and three counts of sodomy on a child, all of which are first-degree felonies.
An investigation into Heaps began when a victim told police he'd raped her at the day care center run by his mother when the victim was 12-years-old. One of the two male victims, now a 26, also came to police with a story of abuse, saying he'd been assaulted between the ages of 6 and 7.
Charging documents indicate a total of three victims.
Salt Lake City Police say they are not currently looking for more victims, and they are not releasing information about the location of the daycare facility.
Det. Robert Ungricht said he was unsure if the mother, who has not been named in reports, was aware the alleged abuse had occurred, according to the Tribune. It's unclear if she may face charges as well.
Heaps was convicted for child abuse and neglect, a third-degree felony, after washing a child's face with scalding hot water in 2004, according to Fox 13, a Salt Lake City, Utah-based Fox affiliate. He was also arrested for kidnapping after allegedly holding a girlfriend against her will in 2007, and had been held at the Utah Department of Corrections on that charge until his release in February 2009.
A progress report issued by Adult Probation and Parole written by a therapist seeing Heaps in 2011 indicated that his behavior was "very disturbing," according to KSL, a Salt Lake City, Utah-based news organization.
Heaps "admitted at one time he had reenacted the sexual abuse of his victims with his girlfriend" and "also frequently compared himself to Ted Bundy," according to the report.
Heaps was booked into the Salt Lake County jail. His bail was set at $500,000, according to court documents.
Police have asked any additional victims to call them at 801-799-3000.
[Photo Credit: Salt Lake County Jail]
