New at 10:00 tonight, a heartbreaking story. A 2-year-old boy is dead tonight. His twin sister in the hospital and a man responsible for watching them is now charged with murder and abuse. This video contains descriptions of child abuse, violence, and other distressing events that may be upsetting or triggering to viewers.
Viewer discretion is strongly advised, especially for those sensitive to these topics. In the quiet suburb of Roy, Utah, a story of hope and heartbreak would come to define an entire community. What began as a family’s trusting arrangement with a friend turned into a nightmare of unimaginable violence. This is the story of 2-year-old Alister, his twin sister Laura, and the parents who loved them more than life itself, only to have their world shattered by someone they believed was safe.
Alister Kunsler was born on February 19, 2021, along with his twin sister Laura to parents Justin Kunsler and Britney Harmon Kunsler. Alister’s time on Earth was tragically short, but the joy he brought to everyone was immeasurable. Alister was born with thick hair, resembling a cute little man. He had an endearing personality and huge dimples on his cheeks.
His smile lit up the room. Alister loved the cartoon Teen Titans Go! and his plush toy, Puss in Boots. He was a true daddy’s boy and loved snuggling up to his father while watching movies. His favorite blanket was blue with stars. Alister loved chatting with his dad and mom. He had a special bond with his grandma Joanne, in whose heart he held a special place.
Losing Alister has left a huge hole in the family’s hearts, something they will struggle with for the rest of their lives. He was loved immeasurably and will be missed more than words can express. The purpose of this video is to share an important story, raise awareness about child protection, and emphasize the need for action to prevent such tragedies.
If you or someone you know has experienced abuse, please reach out to local support services for help. Before tragedy struck, Alister’s parents were much like any other in the close-knit community. High school sweethearts who’d grown up just miles apart. They chose to settle in Roy after marrying, drawn by the promise of quiet streets, good schools, and neighbors who looked out for one another.
They bought a modest home on a tree-lined avenue, envisioning a future filled with backyard barbecues and the pitter-patter of tiny feet. In time, they welcomed twins Alister and his sister. From the moment they were born, these two were inseparable. Alister, older by a few minutes, was the more outgoing of the pair.
Friends recalled him toddling around the yard, giggling loudly at each new discovery. His twin sister was quieter, but just as curious, carefully watching Alister’s antics before joining in. Their parents often joked that they were a perfect balance. He was the spark, and she was the steady flame. Both children loved art time with their mom, who worked part-time at a local clinic.
Using thick crayons and finger paints, they’d decorate the fridge with scribbles only a parent could truly appreciate. On weekends, their dad, a carpenter by trade, would bring home wood scraps for them to play with, fostering their creativity. The twins would stack blocks, build tiny houses, and squeal with delight when dad pretended to be a giant knocking their creations down.
Neighbors often saw the twins riding in a red wagon up and down the sidewalk, flashing big smiles at everyone. Halloween was a special occasion with the twins dressed in matching costumes one year. They were a pair of baby pumpkins to everyone’s delight. For Alister’s parents, life seemed bright and full of promise, filled with laughter echoing across the living room at bath time and bedtime stories read by mom or dad.
Like many parents, Alister’s mom and dad occasionally needed help juggling busy schedules. They were active in the community. His mother sometimes volunteered at local events, while his father occasionally traveled for work to nearby towns. Childcare could be challenging, especially with twins, so they turned to a circle of trusted friends.
Among them was 36-year-old Jonathan Allen Dunn. Dunn was known around the neighborhood as someone always willing to lend a hand. He’d been acquainted with the family for a while, stepping in when last-minute babysitting was needed. He presented himself as patient, even-tempered, and fond of children. On the surface, he seemed a godsend for two hard-working parents trying to balance home and work life.
But beneath that helpful demeanor, Dunn concealed a disturbing truth. First of all, I want to remind you that you can support my channel with a sponsorship subscription. Your support will help me to create more interesting investigations for you and uncover the terrible secrets of criminal cases. I would be very grateful if you would like this video, subscribe to the channel, and turn on notifications so you don’t miss new investigations on my channel.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the details of this criminal story. In 2017, he’d been convicted of child abuse for violently breaking another 2-year-old’s arm and leaving bruises on the child’s face. At the time, he wrote what seemed to be a sincere apology letter, expressing regret and vowing to change.
After serving his sentence, Dunn was released back into the community. Whether Alister’s parents fully knew the details of this conviction remains unclear. However, by the time they realized the depths of his past, it would be too late. It was supposed to be just another evening with Dunn babysitting Alister and his sister.
The parents had commitments, some say an appointment, others mention a late work shift, and they needed someone to watch the twins overnight. By all accounts, Dunn agreed without hesitation. Perhaps for Alister’s parents, this was a relief. The kids would be with someone familiar, someone who’d watched them before.
Neighbors recall the sun setting over the quiet street. Children in other homes were being called inside for dinner. A sense of calm usually fell over Roy at this hour. But behind closed doors in the house where Dunn was babysitting, darkness was about to overtake any semblance of normalcy. Dunn later told investigators the evening started with games, but his version of fun quickly spiraled out of control.
Reports indicate he repeatedly punched Alister and his twin sister, targeting their backs, chest, and sides. He pinched them in sensitive areas, including their genitals, causing excruciating pain. At some point, he threw the children onto a bed multiple times, disregarding how fragile their 2-year-old bodies were.
Investigators also discovered that Dunn took a Nerf gun, designed for harmless play, and used it both as a projectile weapon shooting at the twins and as a blunt instrument striking them with its butt end. The violence escalated to a chilling crescendo when Dunn pushed their small heads into the edges of a closet doorframe.
According to his own confession, he then used what he called a hard foam mallet to hit them on the backs of their heads inflicting even more damage. Medical experts would later conclude that the injuries showed signs of repeated force, not a singular moment of loss of control. At some point, Dunn realized he’d gone far beyond any boundary of rough play.
Perhaps fear of punishment set in or a twisted sense of guilt. Investigators believe he tried to cover his tracks by giving the children Tylenol and cough syrup possibly hoping to mask their pain or render them less likely to cry out. However, the twins were already suffering from grievous internal injuries due to the physical and sexual abuse inflicted upon them.
Between 8:30 and 9:00 the next morning, Dunn noticed Alister had stopped breathing. Instead of immediately calling for an ambulance, he waited precious minutes ticking by while Alister’s life hung in the balance. Not until 10:00 did Dunn finally dial 911, an unforgivable delay that further underscored the depths of his negligence.
When paramedics and law enforcement arrived, the full weight of the tragedy became apparent. They found Alister unresponsive on the front porch showing no signs of life. Inside, his twin sister lay on a couch covered in bruises with visible injuries to her face and body. Both children showed clear signs of physical and sexual trauma.
The twins were rushed to a local hospital. Doctors and nurses worked frantically, but Alister’s injuries consistent with prolonged, severe physical and sexual abuse proved too extensive. He passed away shortly after arrival, leaving medical staff shaken by the brutality inflicted on such a small child. Meanwhile, his twin sister was discovered to have a brain bleed along with extensive bruising and signs of sexual assault.
She survived, but her prognosis was guarded and her road to recovery would be long and fraught with uncertainty. News of Alister’s death hit his parents like a thunderbolt. They’d simply thought they were leaving their children in trusted hands for one night. I loved him more than life itself. I’m sorry.
Now I’m getting emotional. Britney Consler says she’s learning to live with loss. I don’t know if you have any kids, Sarah, but I mean from one parent to any other parent in the world, I He was a good kid. He was a good boy and I loved him with all my heart. Her 2-year-old son Alister died 8 months ago. He was abused to death.
I just don’t even want to celebrate Christmas this year without him. It was 4 days before last Christmas when it happened. Alister and his twin sister Laura were staying in a Roy home with a family friend, Jonathan Dunn. Police reports say Dunn beat the children with a hard foam mallet, threw them on the bed, and gave them Tylenol, cough, and cold medicine.
Dunn called police claiming Alister fell off a couch and wasn’t breathing. When officers got there, they found Alister on the front porch, visibly injured. Britney got the call that day that Alister died. It hit me pretty hard that, you know, my son wasn’t coming home when I had my kids with me. I had Laura and Bella and I was missing him.
It’s been eight months. While the physical trauma may have healed, Britney says what Dunn did in December will never go away. I just want him to rot in hell. I did not know what he was capable of. I didn’t know that he would do this to our boy. Remembering his life, learning to live in Alister’s honor. I’m going to move on with my life and just keep my other kids protected.
I’m going to watch him like a hawk and make sure that nothing happens. Make sure nothing like this ever happens again. And I just want every person out there to protect their children and do not trust anybody they don’t know. In an instant, they’d lost their son and their daughter’s life would never be the same. Friends describe them as inconsolable, grappling with disbelief that someone they considered a friend could commit such a monstrous act.
In the days following, family members spoke of Alister’s cheerful spirit and his sister’s quieter, observant nature. They recalled how he’d run up to strangers, arms wide open, as if everyone was a friend. They remembered the messy artwork, the bedtime giggles, and the twin bond that seemed unbreakable until that fateful night.
A neighbor tearfully recounted how the twins used to play with chalk on the sidewalk, drawing colorful flowers and shapes while their parents proudly watched from the porch. An autopsy on Alister confirmed what first responders and doctors already knew. The child had been subjected to extensive blunt force trauma and sexual abuse.
Bruises and contusions dotted his torso, back, and even his small limbs. The coroner’s report also found chilling evidence of pinching and internal injuries consistent sexual assault, matching Dunn’s confession of targeting the twins’ genitals. It was the very definition of torture. His twin sister’s injuries were equally disturbing, a life-threatening brain injury, bruises all over her body, and clear indications of sexual abuse.
Doctors emphasized that the damage suggested ongoing, repeated assault rather than a single episode. Though she survived, the emotional and physical aftermath would be immeasurable. She would need therapy not only to heal her body, but to process the horror of losing her brother in such a violent manner. The Roy City Police Department launched a comprehensive investigation as soon as they arrived on scene.
They found incriminating evidence throughout the home, blood spatter, displaced furniture, and objects bearing signs of impact. Dunn initially downplayed the severity, claiming he’d only been too rough. But this story quickly unraveled when confronted with the children’s profound injuries and the physical clues left behind.
Investigators recovered the Nerf gun Dunn had misused, still bearing signs of improper use. They also found the so-called foam mallet. Each piece fit into a puzzle depicting a horrific spree of violence. Under increasing scrutiny, Dunn admitted he’d lost control, describing in detail how his rage had escalated and how he’d inflicted pain on the children.
His confession left no doubt as to his guilt. The question then became why he’d had access to children in the first place. It didn’t take authorities long to uncover Dunn’s 2017 child abuse conviction, in which he’d broken another 2-year-old’s arm. That incident should have served as a dire warning to anyone who might consider letting him near children again.
Yet somehow, he’d reentered this family’s life. Whether the parents fully grasped the seriousness of his past remains unknown. In a small town, sometimes people believe in second chances, or word of a conviction might not circulate as widely as it should. This revelation sparked public outrage. Neighbors were shocked that a documented abuser had once again found his way into a child care setting.
Advocacy groups demanded answers and immediate reforms to prevent others like Dunn from accessing vulnerable children. For many, this wasn’t just about one man’s cruelty, but about systemic failures, gaps in monitoring and communication that allowed a known threat to reemerge. By Thursday afternoon, Dunn was arrested.
He faced charges so severe they reflected the horror of his actions: aggravated murder, aggravated child abuse, and aggravated sexual abuse of a child. He took two happy, healthy 2-year-olds and destroyed them both. Prosecutors, well aware of the risk Dunn posed, successfully pushed to deny him bail. The charges underscored not only the severity of the assault, but the prolonged nature of the abuse.
The family and community watched closely as the legal process unfolded. With Dunn’s own confessions, alongside compelling forensic evidence, the prosecution built what many saw as an airtight case. In court, Alister’s parents shared their anguish. Friends and extended family attended every hearing.
Their presence both a tribute to Alister and a testament to the magnitude of the crime. This is not a mistake. This was not an accident. This was not anything other than intentional depravity. Last week, Dunn pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and three other counts of child abuse and sexual abuse. On Wednesday, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
I just want to say I’m sorry for what I done. And it haunts me every day. And I hope that one day the family can forgive me for what I done. The family did not find his statement believable. Jonathan, you are the epitome of evil and our family will never forgive you for the damage that you have done and the evil acts you have performed to these sweet innocent babies.
Even as Dunn’s guilt was established, one critical question lingered. How did this happen again? If the justice system was aware of Dunn’s previous conviction, why was he free to be around children without any supervised restrictions? Child protection advocates pointed to the need for stronger laws that restrict or closely monitor convicted abusers post-release.
They also stressed the importance of easily accessible public records, so families would be fully informed before entrusting a child to anyone’s care. Some community members questioned the role of background checks, mental health evaluations, and parole requirements. It was unclear whether Dunn had mandatory check-ins or therapy sessions after his 2017 conviction.
Many believed that the entire safety net had failed Alister and his twin sister parents, neighbors, parole officers, and the broader social services system each playing an unwitting role in allowing Dunn to slip back into a caretaker role. For Alister’s mother and father, life would never be the same. They returned to a house once echoing with the sound of twins giggling, now an unthinkable reminder of the darkest night of their lives.
Some close friends say the parents considered moving, unable to bear the daily memories. Others mention how they poured their energy into their surviving daughter’s recovery, sitting at her hospital bedside and later helping her through countless therapy sessions. This little girl, once a quiet observer to her brother’s outgoing ways, faced surgeries, ongoing checkups, and a mountain of emotional healing.
Experts indicated she would need long-term trauma counseling. Extended family members rallied around her, determined she would be surrounded by love and support, even in her brother’s absence. Alister’s short life left a profound mark on Roy. Vigils were held at the local church, where community members lit candles and prayed for the grieving family.
Handmade signs bearing Alister’s name appeared along fences, urging passersby to remember Alister and protect our children. Online, people nationwide learned of the case through true crime forums and social media updates. Anger, sadness, and confusion abounded. How could such brutality be inflicted on a child known for his bright smile and fearless curiosity? And how could a convicted abuser so easily slip through the cracks to repeat his violent tendencies? Yet amid the sorrow, there were glimmers of resilience. Strangers donated to help
cover medical bills and funeral expenses, showing a community united in compassion. Child advocacy organizations used Alister’s story to call for policy changes, hoping no family would ever endure a similar nightmare. Although the legal process brought a measure of accountability, Jonathan done behind bars, likely for the rest of his life.
Alister’s parents continued to grapple with loss. Every holiday, they faced an empty seat at the table where a bright-eyed boy should have been. Every milestone in his twin sister’s life reminded them of what Alister could have become. Still, Alister’s spirit lived on in the stories people told, how he loved to draw squiggly animals in crayon, chase bubbles in the backyard, and give tight hugs to anyone he met.
To honor him, some family members started a local fund for child protection awareness, supporting legislative efforts to strengthen background checks on potential caregivers. The tragedy in Royce serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a trusted bond can shatter and how innocent lives can be lost when dangerous individuals escape the safeguards meant to protect children.
It’s a call to action for parents to remain vigilant, for neighbors to speak up if they sense danger, and for policy makers to close the gaps that let predators slip by. Alister’s life, though heartbreakingly short, galvanized a community to reflect on its moral responsibility to protect the youngest among them.
His sister’s survival stands as a testament to human resilience, even in the face of overwhelming cruelty. Though she will carry the scars, both visible and invisible, she also carries a legacy of love from her family and community determined to shield her from further harm. This is the story of Alister, a cherished 2-year-old boy whose boundless energy and sweet nature brought warmth to everyone around him, whose promising future was stolen by an act of pure malice.
May his memory spur us all to uphold our collective duty to protect innocent children and demand accountability from a system that must do better to keep them safe. I just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who watched this video all the way through. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this case in the comments, and please don’t forget to subscribe to my channel.
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