A mom to two missing Utah boys has issued a desperate plea amid fears they may have been snatched by their dad, whom authorities have previously described as “seriously depressed.”

Lizzie Tomich’s voice cracked in a social media video as she begged for the safe return of Will Richman, 1, and 10-month-old Wesley, both of whom were last seen on May 16.

“Please, like, share, repost everything,” she said in the video.

Tomich co-parents her two children with Dane Stephen Richman, who lives in Utah, and he collected the brothers from her Sheldon, Washington, home as part of a routine custody exchange but he failed to return them a week later.

Richman, 46, reportedly told Tomich he and the boys were camping, but he pulled out of a deposition custody hearing on Friday, raising alarm.

A welfare check was carried out at Richman’s Saratoga Springs home before authorities issued an Amber Alert.

“At that point, we called the police to do a welfare check on him,” Tomich said.

“When the police arrived, we learned that the house was vacant and there were things being moved out. 

“There was no car and Dane and the boys were not home. When we learned this, we knew something was wrong.”

Tomich shared messages she exchanged with Richman, where she asked, “Where are you? Where are the kids right now?”

“With me, I’m driving,” Richman supposedly replied before saying they were “camping.”

Tomich then revealed she arrived at the supposed meet-up location 15 minutes earlier than planned.

“As the time approached, I began calling and texting him asking for an ETA. He did not respond. At, approximately 12: 01 p.m. is when I began to panic and when we called police,” she said.

Tomich’s family lawyer, Brittany Skinner, then interjected, adding, “After further investigation with the police, we learned that Dane’s quit his job.

“He’s sold almost all of his possessions. He has left with almost everything he has, with the clear intention of not returning with these children.”

Tomich’s voice cracked as she begged, “Please, like, share, repost everything, share with your family, share with your friends, anybody you know, they could be anywhere. Please,” revealing that her sons have “infectious smiles.. dimples and blue eyes.”

Richman has been charged with custodial interference, a third-degree felony, but authorities fear he may have crossed into Mexico, KTVX reported.

Cops suspect Richman was likely in Carlsbad, California, on May 18 – and crossed the border the following day.

Authorities said “There is concern for the safety and well-being of the children as the suspect has been seriously depressed, selling possessions, facing financial stress, and abandoned his home,” as they issued the Amber Alert.

But when cops were carrying out the welfare check, it’s since emerged they stopped a “moving truck,” Katie Walters, the brothers’ aunt told KTVX.

“He had completely moved out of his house that the children were supposed to be living in, and the moving truck was just actually pulling out of the driveway, and the police were able to stop the moving truck, and they asked what’s going on,” she said.

“They said they didn’t even know because they never even saw the owner of the home while they were there. They only were communicating via text.”

Addressing Richman, she said, “To Dane, just please be safe. We love you and we love those kids.”

Richman is reportedly driving a black Toyota Camry that has a Utah license plate A561HL, but cops suspect the car is a newer model and it could have a temporary tag. 

OREM, Utah (KUTV) — Reports of ticks near Orem City Center Park and surrounding neighborhoods are raising concerns among Utah County residents as families spend more time outdoors during the holiday weekend.

The sightings, shared in neighborhood social media posts, appear to show ticks in residential backyards near the park. While ticks are commonly found in Utah during warmer months, health officials warn some species can carry serious diseases.

Susan and Paul Johnson were among many families spending Memorial Day in the area with visiting friends from Japan.

MORE | Ticks

“Isn’t it gorgeous? It’s not too hot, not too cold,” Susan Johnson said.

The family said they spent the morning honoring veterans before heading out to enjoy the weather.

“We went to the cemetery this morning and placed flowers, and now we are here to play in the water, enjoy the sun and be together as a family,” Johnson said.

Utah’s warmer weather brings increased tick activity. The Rocky Mountain wood tick is the species most commonly found in Utah. According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, the tick is typically active from snowmelt through mid-July and is often found in mountainous terrain.

The species can carry diseases including Colorado tick fever and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Another species, the western black-legged tick, can carry Lyme disease.

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services began statewide tick surveillance efforts in 2020. Officials recommend anyone bitten by a tick monitor for symptoms including fever, rash, fatigue or body aches. Health officials also advise residents to safely collect and store the tick, if possible, for testing and identification.

Johnson said her family takes precautions after spending time outdoors.

“We check ourselves anyway at night,” she said.

Utah has reported a small number of Lyme disease cases in recent years. State health officials said more research is needed to better understand Lyme disease risks in Utah.

Residents are encouraged to wear long sleeves and pants in grassy or wooded areas, use insect repellent and perform tick checks after spending time outside.

______

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Utah Memorial Day weather statewide starts with partly cloudy skies and pleasant temperatures. As the morning progresses, clouds and light showers will increase across southeast Utah.

Stronger showers and thunderstorms are likely over the south-central mountains from I-70 south from midday through the afternoon.

Storms will produce gusty winds and lightning, but rainfall generally will remain light except over the highest terrain.

Showers will move north through the afternoon across mainly eastern Utah, though a few storms may develop over western Utah.

Once again, gusty winds are possible with these generally dry storms.

Showers are possible over the Uinta Mountains by late evening.

Strong southerly winds are the next weather event in the forecast, beginning Tuesday and continuing through Wednesday across western and southwest Utah.

Critical fire danger remains the main threat as the winds continue drying out already dry vegetation.

______