Police search Jordan River for clues to missing woman

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rick Martin, step father to Aletha Jo Williams and Aletha's sister Lovoina Ortega feel the emotion of possible new information regarding Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The two spoke along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, as the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
A helicopter carrying Salt Lake City police detectives scans the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, in hopes of gaining evidence into the dissapearance of Aletha Jo Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The Salt Lake City police department was acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rick Martin, step father to Aletha Jo Williams and Aletha's sister Lovoina Ortega feel the emotion of possible new information regarding Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The two spoke along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, as the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Salt Lake City police and family of Aletha Jo Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002, gather along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. The Salt Lake City police department was acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Lovoina Ortega becomes emotional as she talks about her sister Aletha Jo Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. Speaking along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river.

Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune
Rick Martin, step father to Aletha Jo Williams and her sister Lovoina Ortega feel the emotion of possible new information regarding Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The two spoke along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, as the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river.

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Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Rick Martin, step father to Aletha Jo Williams and Aletha's sister Lovoina Ortega feel the emotion of possible new information regarding Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The two spoke along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, as the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune A helicopter carrying Salt Lake City police detectives scans the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, in hopes of gaining evidence into the dissapearance of Aletha Jo Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The Salt Lake City police department was acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Rick Martin, step father to Aletha Jo Williams and Aletha's sister Lovoina Ortega feel the emotion of possible new information regarding Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The two spoke along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, as the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Salt Lake City police and family of Aletha Jo Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002, gather along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014. The Salt Lake City police department was acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Lovoina Ortega becomes emotional as she talks about her sister Aletha Jo Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. Speaking along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river. Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune Rick Martin, step father to Aletha Jo Williams and her sister Lovoina Ortega feel the emotion of possible new information regarding Williams who was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she was last seen March, 2002. The two spoke along the banks of the Jordan River near 2590 S. 1160 East, as the Salt Lake City police department were acting on several credible tips that led them to reopen the case and focus on the river.

By Jessica Miller The Salt Lake Tribune

· February 28, 2014 2:05 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Salt Lake City police on Friday afternoon were searching a portion of the Jordan River for evidence linked to a Salt Lake City woman who vanished nearly 12 years ago.

Aletha Jo Williams was 25 years old and 6 months pregnant when she last was seen March 6, 2002.

Police — who met with news media near 2590 S. 1160 West — said they expected to be in the area for several hours doing a ground and aerial search for evidence in William's disappearance.

Det. Cody Lougy said Friday that several credible tips led them to reopen the case and focus on the Jordan River, but police have not described the nature of the tips.

Police said divers searched the river earlier this month, but didn't find anything.

Friends and acquaintances of Williams are asked to contact police.

Williams last was seen near 1700 South and West Temple, where she dropped off her belongings at a relative's house and said she would return. There was no further word as to Williams' whereabouts and police on Wednesday had no information as to the outcome of her pregnancy.

Her family reported her disappearance in May 2002.

Williams is black and 5 feet 2 to 5 feet 4 inches tall. When she disappeared she weighed 140 pounds, had pierced ears and a pierced tongue, and the name "Shawn" was tattooed on her wrist.

Anyone with information may call 801-799-3000. Anonymous tips may be sent by texting the keyword TIPSLCPD plus any relevant information to CRIMES 274637. The case number is 02-79626.

jmiller@sltrib.com