A convicted sex offender was apprehended by Provo police after sending concerning emails to various community outreach agencies, including the Provo Police Department, Utah Fraternal Order of Police, Brigham Young University Police Department, and the Utah Department of Public Safety. The individual responsible for the emails has been identified as Anietie Wilson Umoren, a 42-year-old man listed on the national sex offender registry.
According to Provo police spokesperson Janna-Lee Holland, the emails raised concerns among authorities, leading to a weeks-long search for Umoren. Finally, on Wednesday, officers located and arrested him in Provo’s East Bay area. He is currently being held without bail at the Utah County Jail, facing charges of failure to register as a sex offender, a third-degree felony.
Although Umoren’s registry address is listed as a homeless services agency in Salt Lake City, most of his recent activities and interactions have occurred in Utah County. He was reportedly attempting to obtain a motel voucher and an ID from the Food and Care Coalition.
During questioning, Umoren informed officers that he lives in Salt Lake City but frequently visits Utah County. Staff at the Food and Care Coalition confirmed his regular presence at the facility, where he often does his laundry. Police believe these factors indicate his noncompliance as a sex offender.
As per the Utah Department of Corrections website, all offenders, including those who are homeless, are required to register any change of primary residence, secondary residence, employment, vehicle information, or educational information within three business days.
The emails sent by Umoren raised concerns due to their delusional ideas and vague threats of violence towards a female individual he claimed to be watching. Although most of the emails contained ideations about women in general, one email mentioned a specific woman whose identity has yet to be confirmed by the police. For safety reasons, the police have refrained from releasing the name used in the emails.
While the content of the emails alone may not have been sufficient for charges, it did alert the police to Umoren’s presence in the area and raised alarm due to the nature of the writings. Consequently, the Provo Police Department issued a press release as a precautionary warning to the public, despite no further evidence of criminal activity.
The press release also highlighted Umoren’s prior offenses against women at Utah Valley University and the University of Utah. He has previously been convicted of lewdness, burglary, violating restraining orders, and attempted forcible sexual abuse, for which he was found guilty but mentally ill in 2018. The incident involved Umoren groping a female adult outside her apartment complex and subsequently touching another woman indecently in a movie theater.
While Umoren awaits a court date, he could potentially be released within the next two to four weeks, according to Holland.
The press release concluded with a reminder for the public to remain aware of their surroundings and take necessary precautions for personal safety. Any suspicious activity should be reported to the police.
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