A Pleasant Grove care facility manager is facing felony charges after police say she violently assaulted an 18-year-old client with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities, yanking the young woman to the floor by her hair, choking her, and threatening to kill her. Witnesses told investigators the attack was so intense they feared the woman might not survive. The manager later surrendered to law enforcement and now faces serious charges in Utah’s courts.
According to KSL, court documents identify the defendant as 48-year-old Senita Lotomoana Lavulavu of Springville. She is charged in Utah’s 4th District Court with two counts of aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult, both second-degree felonies. The charges stem from an incident at a residential site in Pleasant Grove that provides care for adults with developmental disabilities.
As reported by KUTV, a police affidavit states that a witness saw Lavulavu pull the client to the ground by her hair, pin her first by the arms and then by the throat, and choke her until the witness feared for the woman’s life. The affidavit alleges that when the victim tried to get away, Lavulavu followed her, grabbed her hair again, climbed on top of her, and continued choking her before telling the young woman, "I'm going to kill you," and walking away. Lavulavu later turned herself in and told police she had "lost control" during a verbal dispute. The affidavit also notes prior convictions for resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in 1996 and an impaired-driving conviction in 2022.
What charging documents show
According to KSL, the affidavit, which does not disclose the name of the care facility, describes the victim as an 18-year-old woman with severe developmental and intellectual impairments. Lavulavu is identified in the filings as a house manager or assistant manager at the residential site. Court records state that the charges were filed in the 4th District Court and that she was booked into the Utah County Jail. Those filings serve as the primary source for the allegations laid out against her.
Legal context and reporting
Under Utah law, aggravated abuse of a vulnerable adult is a second-degree felony when committed intentionally or knowingly, according to the Utah Code. The statute covers conduct by a caretaker that causes serious physical injury or otherwise places a vulnerable adult’s health in danger. Anyone who suspects abuse can report concerns to Utah Adult Protective Services by calling 1-800-371-7897 or filing a report online through the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
The 4th District Court docket will determine whether prosecutors move the case toward trial or resolve it another way. This story will be updated as new court records or official statements are released. Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact local law enforcement or Utah Adult Protective Services at the number above.
