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.
Detectives brought the cold case back to life last month, announcing new information and dozens of witnesses provided tips.
“They recognize she's a mother, she's a daughter, she's a sister, and, yeah, their hearts are softened: people are doing the right thing by coming forward,” said Det. Cody Lougy of the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Originally, investigators thought Williams disappeared in March 2002. Now, after more interviews, police think she could have vanished as early as November 2001. Williams was 25 and pregnant at the time of her disappearance.
Over the past few weeks, detectives have searched two bodies of water, including the Jordan River.
They searched a South Salt Lake glass business, a home in Kearns, and seized a motor home.
“We still have evidence being processed at several forensic labs and so this case continues to build, our homicide investigators continue to build this case and look for closure in the Aletha Jo Williams homicide investigation,” Lougy said.
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.
Related stories:
