UT UT - Aletha Williams, 25, Salt Lake City, November 2001

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Aletha Jo Williams

MISSING SINCE: 3/06/2002
DOB: 4/16/1976
AGE: 25 (at time of disapearance)
HEIGHT:5'2"
WEIGHT: 140 lbs
HAIR: Black
EYES: Brown
RACE: Black

CONTACT: Salt Lake City Police Department (801) 799-3000

MISSING ENDANGERED Adult: Aletha was last seen on the corner of 1700 South and West Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. She dropped off her belongings at a family member's residence and indicated she would return later. Aletha has a medical condition. She has a tattoo of the name "Shawn" on her wrist, pierced ears, pierced tongue, six months pregnant at time of disappearance.

http://publicsafety.utah.gov/bci/UTAHmissingpersons.html#aletha
 
Police are looking for information on a Salt Lake City woman who disappeared nearly 12 years ago.

Aletha Jo Williams was 25 and 6 months pregnant when she last was seen March 6, 2002. Investigators have received new information and reopened the case, Salt Lake City police announced in a press statement Wednesday. Friends and acquaintances of Williams are asked to contact police.


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57603753-78/police-information-case-lake.html.csp
 
Video at link:

SLCPD is asking for the help of anyone who knew Aletha Williams

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 UTAH) – A tip has lead investigators to re-open a cold case from 2002.

The Salt Lake City Police Department says it need friends and acquaintances of Aletha Jo Williams to come forward and talk to them.

“We received a tip in the case and we are following up on this tip,” said Det. Cody Lougy.

Williams was reported missing in May of 2002. Police believe there is something to be found along the Jordan River.

“This information that we received has sparked this investigation and we have opened this case up. It is good enough information that we are willing to spend the resources to put a helicopter in the air to put detectives on the ground,” Det. Lougy added.



http://www.4utah.com/story/d/story/...yone-who-knew-al/86148/6HCo__Gd0ECN-lHm9ItIVw
 
The Charley Project updated Aletha's page earlier this week with the recent developments. http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/w/williams_aletha.html
In 2014, authorities reopened her case and conducted a search of the Jordan River near near 3000 South 1100 West, two miles from where she was last seen. They stated some people had come recently come forward with new information. Little information is available in Williams's case, but foul play is suspected.

Today, Aletha has been missing for 12 years.
 
2002 missing person's case now classified as a murder
Published: Wednesday, March 12 2014 4:02 p.m. MDT
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police on Wednesday announced they have re-classified a 2002 missing person's case as a homicide.
Police now believe that Aletha Jo Williams, 25, was murdered. And investigators announced Wednesday that they also have a person of interest in the case.
"The person of interest is somebody that she encountered. That's all I can tell you as far as the relationship," said Salt Lake police detective Cody Lougy.
more at link.
 
Arrest made in cold case homicide

http://fox13now.com/2014/03/20/arrest-made-in-aletha-jo-williams-case/

SALT LAKE CITY — After 12 years, Thursday morning police made the first and only arrest in the homicide investigation of Aletha Jo Williams.

“I know nothing about her death,” said 48-year-old Ricky Vincent as police brought him into custody on charges of obstruction of justice on a homicide investigation.

Salt Lake City Police Department officials said he’s an associate with their person of interest, but they are not releasing the connection at this time.

...

Vincent said it’s his brother who police are after, and he said he has no connection to the disappearance of Williams. Vincent has been booked into the Salt Lake County Jail.

 
Published Jul 8, 2021
Missing in Utah: Possible last hope of finding Aletha Jo Williams suddenly gone

The last hope of learning what happened to Aletha Jo Williams’ family may have ended Tuesday.
---
In 2001, Williams suddenly disappeared while headed to a friend’s house. But it wasn’t until months later that she was listed as officially missing by Salt Lake police.

The case went cold for more than a decade. But in 2014, police received new information about her possible whereabouts.
---
About a month later, Ricky Vincent was arrested by police for obstruction of justice. An ABC4 reporter questioned Vincent as he was being escorted by police to the jail.

Reporter: “Why do they say you know the person of interest?”
Vincent: “Well, he’s, my brother.”
Reporters: “What”s your brother’s name?”
Vincent: “Mike Vincent.”
---
Later, a search warrant at what was believed to be Mike Vincent’s home was conducted. They found drugs and little else.

But the warrant claimed the man’s daughter saw Mike Vincent “covered in blood” on the day of Williams’ disappearance.

She claimed Vincent told her “he had just killed a black female.”

The man’s girlfriend claimed he said “he had taken a human life,” and described “killing a black female.”
Also, the warrant claimed she said he “cut off finger tips” to get rid of DNA.
---
But Vincent nor his brother Ricky were ever prosecuted for crimes related to the disappearance of Williams.
---
And police will never be able to question Mike Vincent again. Early Tuesday morning, he was killed allegedly by his wife at their business in Magna.

Missing in Utah: Possible last hope of finding Aletha Jo Williams suddenly gone | ABC4 Utah
 
More details about the murder of prime suspect
Police: Woman fatally shoots husband in Magna

A man was allegedly shot and killed by his wife in Magna early Tuesday morning.
---
According to Sgt. Melody Cutler with the Unified Police Department, around 12:30 a.m., officers responded to the area of 9000 Main Street in Magna after a woman, later identified as 41-year-old Cynthia Vincent, called and said she had shot her husband, 57-year-old Michael Vincent.

She told law enforcement she shot her husband because he was assaulting her.
---
Arresting documents show that officers found a revolver next to where Michael was laying. Cynthia Vincent told officers that it was the gun she had to used to shoot her husband.

Cynthia Vincent told law enforcement Michael had strangled her, so she retrieved a gun to defend herself.

Police: Woman fatally shoots husband in Magna | ABC4 Utah
 
(it seems some information are not updated on her profile)

Aletha Jo Williams
  • aletha_jo_williams_1.jpg
    aletha_jo_williams_2.jpg
    aletha_jo_williams_3.jpg
  • Missing Since 11/01/2001
  • Missing From Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Classification Endangered Missing
  • Sex Female
  • Race Black
  • Date of Birth 04/16/1976 (45)
  • Age 25 years old
  • Height and Weight 5'2 - 5'4, 140 pounds
  • Medical Conditions Williams was six months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. She also has an unspecified medical condition.
  • Distinguishing Characteristics African-American female. Black hair, brown eyes. Williams's nickname is Ally. She has pierced ears and a pierced tongue. The name "Shawn" is tattooed on her wrist.
Details of Disappearance
Williams was last seen on the corner of 1700 South and West Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. She dropped her belongings off at the residence of a family member and indicated that she would return later, but never did. She has never been heard from again.

Williams was reported missing in May 2002. For a long time authorities believed she had vanished on March 6, 2002, but later information indicated she could have disappeared as early as November 2001.

She left behind a young son. She was involved with drugs at the time of her disappearance and has a criminal history with felony convictions for drug offenses and stolen property, and it wasn't uncommon for her to drop out of sight for short time periods, but she's never been out of touch with her family for this long before.

In 2014, authorities reopened Williams's case and conducted searches of several locations, including the Jordan River and another body of water. They stated some people had come recently come forward with new information and they believe Williams was murdered.

In March 2014, Ricky Lee Vincent was charged with felony obstruction of justice in connection with her case. A photo of Vincent is posted with this case summary. Authorities stated they didn't believe he was actually involved in Williams's disappearance, but he was a known acquaintance of their suspect.

The suspect has not been publicly identified in the press. In a television interview, Vincent said the man is his brother, but police would not confirm this. No further arrests have been made.

Foul play is suspected in Williams's case, which remains unsolved.

Charley project profile link - Aletha Jo Williams – The Charley Project
 
(it seems some information are not updated on her profile)

Aletha Jo Williams
  • aletha_jo_williams_1.jpg
    aletha_jo_williams_2.jpg
    aletha_jo_williams_3.jpg
  • Missing Since 11/01/2001
  • Missing From Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Classification Endangered Missing
  • Sex Female
  • Race Black
  • Date of Birth 04/16/1976 (45)
  • Age 25 years old
  • Height and Weight 5'2 - 5'4, 140 pounds
  • Medical Conditions Williams was six months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. She also has an unspecified medical condition.
  • Distinguishing Characteristics African-American female. Black hair, brown eyes. Williams's nickname is Ally. She has pierced ears and a pierced tongue. The name "Shawn" is tattooed on her wrist.
Details of Disappearance
Williams was last seen on the corner of 1700 South and West Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. She dropped her belongings off at the residence of a family member and indicated that she would return later, but never did. She has never been heard from again.

Williams was reported missing in May 2002. For a long time authorities believed she had vanished on March 6, 2002, but later information indicated she could have disappeared as early as November 2001.

She left behind a young son. She was involved with drugs at the time of her disappearance and has a criminal history with felony convictions for drug offenses and stolen property, and it wasn't uncommon for her to drop out of sight for short time periods, but she's never been out of touch with her family for this long before.

In 2014, authorities reopened Williams's case and conducted searches of several locations, including the Jordan River and another body of water. They stated some people had come recently come forward with new information and they believe Williams was murdered.

In March 2014, Ricky Lee Vincent was charged with felony obstruction of justice in connection with her case. A photo of Vincent is posted with this case summary. Authorities stated they didn't believe he was actually involved in Williams's disappearance, but he was a known acquaintance of their suspect.

The suspect has not been publicly identified in the press. In a television interview, Vincent said the man is his brother, but police would not confirm this. No further arrests have been made.

Foul play is suspected in Williams's case, which remains unsolved.

Charley project profile link - Aletha Jo Williams – The Charley Project

Hey, I've been noticing the name 'Shawn' a lot. Is that her son or somebody else? I don't suppose you'd know, i'm just curious.

As far as I know, they had rounded up two suspects, but that lead to a dead end as well.
Missing in Utah: Possible last hope of finding Aletha Jo Williams suddenly gone | ABC4 Utah
 
Aletha Jo Williams – The Charley Project

Last updated July 20, 2021; details of disappearance updated.

Details of Disappearance
Williams was last seen on the corner of 1700 South and West Temple Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. She dropped her belongings off at the residence of a family member and indicated that she would return later, but never did. She has never been heard from again.

Williams was reported missing in May 2002. For a long time authorities believed she had vanished on March 6, 2002, but later information indicated she could have disappeared as early as November 2001.

She left behind a young son. She was involved with drugs at the time of her disappearance and has a criminal history with felony convictions for drug offenses and stolen property, and it wasn't uncommon for her to drop out of sight for short time periods, but she's never been out of touch with her family for this long before.

In 2014, authorities reopened Williams's case and conducted searches of several locations, including the Jordan River and another body of water. They stated some people had come recently come forward with new information and they believe Williams was murdered.

In March 2014, Ricky Lee Vincent was charged with felony obstruction of justice in connection with her case. A photo of Ricky is posted with this case summary. Authorities stated they didn't believe he was actually involved in Williams's disappearance, but he was a known acquaintance of their suspect. The obstruction charge against Ricky was later dropped.

In July 2021, Michael Vincent was killed in a domestic violence incident in Magna, Utah. Only after his death did it come out in the media that Michael, who was Ricky's brother, was the suspect in Williams's case. Michael knew Williams because his first wife, Wendy, was one of Williams's best friends. He had a criminal history for assault, domestic violence and drug-related offenses.

Michael's daughter said she saw her father "covered in blood" on the day of Williams's disappearance, and he told her he had killed a black female. He allegedly cut off the woman's fingertips after her death, to get rid of evidence. He was never charged in Williams's death, however.

Foul play is suspected in Williams's case, which remains unsolved.
 
Law enforcement authorities in Utah this week closed a murder cold case that had gone unsolved for more than 20 years. The Salt Lake City Police Department confirmed that the case of Aletha Jo Williams’s 2001 murder had been closed and that the woman’s friend, Michael Vincent, was the killer, Salt Lake City ABC affiliate KTVX reported.

More at Missing Utah Woman's Cold Case Murder Solved After More Than 20 Years: Police
 
“[Police] were going to close my daughter’s case and Michael Vincent is the one that killed her,” Cindy reportedly told the station.

Police reportedly said Aletha was “best friends” with Michael’s then-wife and began partying regularly with the couple.

“All I know is what they told me is that I guess they used drugs, and that’s how they knew each other,” Cindy Williams reportedly told KTVX.

Michael Vincent, who was never arrested in connection with the case, died in July 2021. His wife Cynthia Vincent reportedly shot him to death in their home during an alleged domestic violence incident, claiming it was self-defense. Michael Vincent reportedly had an extensive history of domestic violence, per KTVX.

According to the station’s extensive reporting on the case, Williams was last seen alive in late 2001. She was reportedly walking to her sister’s house but never made it. She was never seen again.

Several months later, Williams was officially listed as a missing person by SLCPD, but the case quickly went cold. Cindy Williams had previously criticized police, saying they paid little attention to her daughter’s case because of the attention being paid to Elizabeth Smart, whose kidnapping earlier that year garnered national attention.

“They wiped her under the rug like it never happened,” Williams told KTVX in 2019. “You know, like threw her away. She didn’t exist. That’s what it made me feel like.”
Missing Utah Woman's Cold Case Murder Solved After More Than 20 Years: Police
 
 
Jan 5, 2022



 

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