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Bountiful • The mysteries behind Tina Wilson's death start with an act of impersonation: someone posing as her nephew was reporting Wilson too sick to work for days before police found her body in her apartment.

The caller began phoning the Davis School District last Wednesday, claiming his aunt was too ill to report for her job as a school custodian. When investigators on Monday asked Wilson's nephew about the calls, he was at a loss.

"He said, 'I haven't talked with her for a long time,'" said Lt. Randy Pickett.

Wilson's father asked police to check on his 39-year-old daughter Monday morning because he had not heard from her since Tuesday, Pickett said. Officers broke into her apartment, near 550 S. 200 East, to find Wilson's body hidden in the home, but with no signs of trauma, Pickett said. She likely died several days ago, Pickett said, but he would not elaborate on how her body was concealed.

There were no signs of a struggle or of forced entry into the apartment, leading police to suspect Wilson may have been killed by someone she knows, Pickett said.

Wilson's car was missing from her home, and investigators are looking for a man who may have been seen driving it: Chad Mecham, 27, who is a "person of interest" in the investigation, Pickett said. Witnesses in West Valley City saw a man who matched Mecham's description fleeing a burglary about 1:15 p.m. near 5900 W. 2900 South. The license plates on the escape car matched Wilson's, police said.

"Somebody drove up and scared the suspect off," West Valley City police Sgt. Mike Powell said. "It does appear there are some similarities in the residential buglary suspect and [Mecham], but we can't confirm whether or not it's the same person."

Mecham was convicted in 2007 of robbing pharmacies in Salt Lake County. He served 270 days in jail and was sentenced to three years of probation.

However, on Thursday, a state court judge issued a warrant for Mecham's arrest after he absconded from probation, said Utah Department of Corrections spokesman Steve Gehrke.

Mecham and Wilson were acquainted, but Pickett would not describe their relationship.

Wilson's death shocked her coworkers at West Clinton Elementary school, where district officials said she had worked since 2008.

"I just can't imagine why someone would do that," said Eileen Gwynn, a hearing specialist at the school.

Ben Huddleston, a fellow custodian, remembered Wilson as a kind woman with a good sense of humor.

"She was funny," he said. "There was just never a time when work was boring when she was around."

Wilson's body has been taken to the state Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. —

How to Help

Police are looking for Tina Wilson's car and a person of interest in her death.

The car • A beige 2004 Ford Focus, license plate 558NXZ. Anyone who sees this car should not approach it but should call 911.

The person of interest • Chad Mecham, 27, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 190 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. Anyone with information may call Bountiful police at (801) 298-6000.