Kearns foster father charged with aggravated child abuse

KEARNS, Utah (ABC4) — A Kearns foster father has been charged after allegedly physically assaulting a foster child. The teenage victim suffered injuries and “blacked out” during the assault.

Anthony Siliveinusi Niu, 27, has been charged with aggravated child abuse, intentionally or knowingly, a first-degree felony.

According to court documents, a detective from the Unified Police Department began investigating a report of child abuse that occurred on July 11, 2025. A 16-year-old boy reported that he had been “physically and mentally assaulted” by his foster parent, Niu.

The teenage victim reported that Niu was swearing and yelling at him. When the 16-year-old attempted to leave, Niu allegedly asked, “Where the f— do you think you’re going?” and approached the victim as if “he was going to fight” him.

Out of fear, the 16-year-old grabbed a shovel, which Niu told him to put down. The victim put down the shovel and told Niu he was leaving. As the teenage victim walked away, Niu allegedly called him names and told him that he was “weak,” that “no one cares” about him, and that he was a “border hopper.”

The 16-year-old reported to police that the two got into a physical altercation and walked away from each other when moments later, Niu suddenly tackled the teen and “slammed him to the ground.” The victim said that Niu repeatedly punched and slapped his face, and wiped blood off the victim’s face with spit during the abuse.

He attempted to bite and push Niu off of him, but the teenager could not stop him. While the victim was on the ground, Niu’s wife allegedly came outside and “stomped on his feet,” causing injuries to his ankles. The 16-year-old stated that he blacked out a few times and heard Niu whispering that “he would kill him.”

At this point, a neighbor came outside and told Niu and his wife to “get off” the victim. The 16-year-old ran away and was observed with a bump on his head and bleeding cuts and bruises on his body. The neighbor stated she saw Niu “slamming [the victim’s] head into the ground” and “looked like he was choking him.”

Documents say that the incident was also captured on video, and showed Niu “repeatedly torquing the victim’s head and neck,” which caused a high risk of serious injury.

“The foster parent in this case, instead of providing a safe environment and loving home, verbally and physically assaulted the victim to the point that he lost consciousness, then threatened to kill him,” court documents read.

A warrant has been issued for Niu’s arrest.