Authorities capture fugitive Newport Beach millionaire charged in killing of wife

A Newport Beach millionaire suspected of killing his wife in 2012 was captured by authorities on Sunday after being on the run for years and is now back in the United States, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed Monday, Aug. 5.

In January 2015, real estate investor Peter Chadwick was supposed to appear in court to face a charge that he strangled his wife and dumped her body in a trash bin in San Diego County. But he skipped out on the appearance and had been on the U.S. Marshals’ Most Wanted list of fugitives ever since. At one point authorities announced a $100,000 reward and created a multi-episode podcast series about the crime’s details.

The U.S. Marshals would not give more information about Chadwick’s arrest, saying only he was taken into custody on Sunday, Aug. 4. They would not confirm media reports that he was captured in Mexico. Some broadcast stations were present when Chadwick, now 55, arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport escorted by authorities.

Authorities said Chadwick often traveled to China, Thailand, Malaysia and Canada and had millions of dollars at his disposal. Newport Beach police said in September 2018 that investigators had exhausted every lead.

The events date back to Oct. 10, 2012, when neither Quee Choo Chadwick, 46, nor her husband picked up their three sons from school. Police were called to their Newport Coast home, which was empty but showed signs of a struggle, including a bloody towel and blood around the bathtub, the Register reported.

The next day, Chadwick called police from the Mexico border and said a handyman had killed his wife and kidnapped him, adding that the perpetrator had forced him to drive to the foreign country and dump her body. Chadwick was arrested later that day. He eventually admitted the handyman story was fiction, according to authorities.

Investigators doubted his story and noticed dry blood on his hands and scratches on his neck. The U.S. Marshals Service has said Chadwick became enraged and strangled his wife after an argument. Authorities have said the pair had argued about financial issues and a possible divorce.

Chadwick was charged then released on $1.5 million bail as he awaited trial. He surrendered his passport and agreed to stay with his father in Santa Barbara. After he missed his court hearing and he was not at his father’s home, investigators found he emptied his bank accounts worth millions.

Chadwick, who was born in the United Kingdom and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen, has been on the lam ever since.