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Credible new clues suggest a wanted fugitive may have returned to Utah. He's accused of brutally beating a 12-year-old boy and sexually assaulting the boy's younger sister.
Relatives who want Willie Phillips caught have set up a Web site, CatchWillie.com. They say he spent 10 hours physically and sexually abusing the children, who were legally in his custody. It seems likely he left the state right after and has now returned.
The first sighting was last Wednesday at a Tooele McDonald's restaurant. The witness was someone who knew Philips before he went on the lam.
"Time is on our side in this case, and we anticipate that he's eventually going to make a mistake and we're going to capitalize on it," said Tooele police Lt. Paul Wimmer.
Chris Fields, the custodial relative of victims, told us Phillips was seen the next day in Grantsville. He says a relative spotted Willie Phillips last Thursday driving down Clark Street.
That sighting happened uncomfortably close to Fields' home. "[It] made my stomach really uneasy; made me sick to think that he was here in town," Fields said.
Police have clear evidence Phillips was out of state a month ago. The twin sightings strongly suggest he was back in Tooele last week. As for this week, who knows? "I think he's keeping himself mobile," Wimmer said.
He's also getting Internet access. Just four days ago, Phillips signed onto his own social page on Tagged.com.
Philips faces charges of attempted rape, sodomy and aggravated abuse of a child. Fields says the children are beginning to express themselves about the abuse. "Frustration, questions; questions I don't necessarily have answers for," he said.
Police do not believe Phillips is a threat to the general public. "We believe it's a domestic issue. We don't believe he's out preying on people as we speak," Wimmer said.
The person who saw Phillips driving in Grantsville called Chris Fields instead of police. The delay may have helped him get away. So if you see Phillips, Fields says the first call should be to Tooele Police at 435-882-5600.
E-mail: jhollenhorst@ksl.com
