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PROVO — The Utah County Sheriff's Office is looking for victims of ritualistic child sexual abuse.
On Tuesday, the sheriff's office released a brief statement, noting that since April 2021, an investigation into "ritualistic child sexual abuse and child sex trafficking" in Utah County had been underway. The sheriff's office declined Tuesday to say who or what groups are being investigated or what kind of ritualistic abuse is occurring.
However, based on their investigation, law enforcers learned that "other victims had previously reported similar forms of ritualistic sexual abuse and trafficking that occurred in Utah County, Juab County and Sanpete County during the time between 1990 and 2010," according to the sheriff's office.
"We are pleading with the public and encourage victims, or individuals with knowledge of these crimes, to contact the Utah County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit so that they can be offered all the assistance possible. We understand that there are individuals who have concerns for their safety and/or well-being, who have been silenced. We need your help," the sheriff's office said Tuesday.
Federal agents are also involved in the investigation.
Anyone with information about ritualistic sexual abuse in Utah County is asked to contact the sheriff's office, at 801-851-4010.