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WEST JORDAN — Based on newly discovered video evidence, West Jordan police announced Tuesday they are no longer looking for two additional men in the sex abuse case of two teenage girls.
Additionally, detectives are no longer asking prosecutors to consider kidnapping charges against Andrew James Gwilliam, 35, a registered sex offender who served time in prison for kidnapping six young girls and young women in Sandy in 2001 and 2002.
However, Gwilliam is still being investigated for two counts of forcible sexual abuse, said West Jordan Police Sgt. Joe Monson. Those potential charges, he said, are based on video surveillance uncovered by detectives.
On Friday, hotel staffers at the Hampton Inn, 3923 W. Center Park Drive, called 911 after two 14-year-old girls came to the front lobby claiming they had been assaulted. When officers arrived, they found Gwilliam still in the hotel, a police report states.
The girls told detectives they were walking along 6200 South to go to a 7-Eleven store when a car pulled up beside them. Originally, they claimed two men got out and forced them into the car. The driver, who stayed in the vehicle, was identified as Gwilliam, Monson said.
He noted Monday, however, that the two girls had not been cooperative with police since their initial contact. It was unclear Tuesday what circumstances changed that caused detectives to no longer investigate the incident as a kidnapping and no longer believe three men were involved.
The case has not yet been turned over to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and no official criminal charges have been filed against Gwilliam.
Between 2001 and 2002, Gwilliam used either a gun or a knife when he kidnapped six young girls and women — ranging in age from 12 to 20 — over a seven-month period in the Sandy area.
He pleaded guilty to attempted forcible sexual abuse and two counts of aggravated kidnapping. In exchange, prosecutors dismissed charges of attempted child kidnapping, aggravated kidnapping and two counts of attempted aggravated kidnapping.
Gwilliam was sentenced to 10 years to life at the Utah State Prison. He was granted credit for time served during his arrest and was released in January 2012.
During his sentencing in 2003, it was noted that he apparently began behaving strangely after suffering a severe head injury while serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His defense attorney at the time said his neurological problems could be treated with medication and therapy.
