Woman in adoption record thefts pleads no contest

BRIGHAM CITY — A woman accused of stealing adoption records from a Davis County courthouse pleaded no contest to the charges.

But Jill Ekstrom may have defendant's regret. She tells an Ogden newspaper that she had taken painkillers Monday and may withdraw the plea.

Ekstrom is the former owner of UtahFinders.com. She gained notoriety for reuniting adopted children with their biological parents.

A Davis County prosecutor, Rick Westmoreland, says 300 to 400 adoption case files from the 1970s were contained on several rolls of microfilm. The microfilm has not been recovered.

Ekstrom, 43, was accused of selling some of that information to an undercover officer.

The Standard-Examiner says Ekstrom pleaded no contest to five misdemeanors. Sentencing is set for July 22.