Far-flung tips from public, steady police work helped track down elusive Newport Beach fugitive, officials say
A Newport Beach millionaire who remained a fugitive for years in the 2012 killing of his wife was caught over the weekend in Puebla, Mexico after years of using fake names and IDs, working odd jobs and using other deceptive tactics to evade a manhunt, officials said Tuesday.
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On Sunday night, 55-year-old Peter Chadwick was found by Mexican federal police and returned to the United States the next morning, authorities said. He had been on the lam since 2015, disappearing while out on bail after being charged with the 2012 murder of his 46-year-old wife, Quee Choo Chadwick.
On Tuesday, local and federal authorities offered the first details into the elaborate efforts Chadwick allegedly employed to avoid capture along with how the public helped to narrow down the search for the suspect.
Last year authorities offered a $100,000 reward and created a podcast series about the events and the real estate investor’s disappearance. The publicity of the Chadwick’s suspected crime helped track him down, Newport Beach police Chief Jon Lewis said during the news conference at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office
“After receiving hundreds and hundreds of tips from all over the world one of them led us to our suspect,” Lewis said. He described that authorities received a tip with “general information” that would eventually help pinpoint where Chadwick was though he would not elaborate about what the tipster said. Authorities were also investigating whether anyone would receive the reward.
Lewis said investigators believe Chadwick — who was put on the U.S. marshals’ 15 Most Wanted list — had been living in Mexico since his disappearance. The British-born and American-naturalized man used fake identification cards with aliases including Paul Cook, Paul Craig and John Franklin.
“He traveled throughout the country never taking up a steady residence,” he said.
Flush with cash after emptying out bank accounts, Chadwick first stayed in luxury hotels and resorts in Mexico but then turned to more modest accommodations when the high end places started requiring passports. Chadwick surrendered his when he was released on bail. He also worked odd jobs.
“He had no intentions of coming back to Orange County to face trial or raise the three sons that he abandoned,” Lewis said. The children have been staying with family members.
When he was captured, he had been staying in Puebla, a city southeast of Mexico City, U.S. Marshal David Singer said. But early after his disappearance, he tried to lead investigators much further north.
“Chadwick strategically placed indicators that he was was headed to Canada,” Singer said. He left receipts from the Seattle, Washington airport and literature about moving to Canada at his father’s home. Singer also said Chadwick was getting help from family members.
The years-long manhunt was a culmination of events that began on Oct. 10, 2012, neither Chadwick nor his wife, originally from Malaysia, picked up their three sons from school. Police found their home empty but saw signs of a struggle.
During the news conference authorities showed crime scene photos showing blood around a large tub inside the stately Newport Coast home. The woman’s ring and cellphone were left behind and a safe had been emptied.
Chadwick reported to authorities early the next morning that a handyman had killed his wife of 21 years and forced him to drive to Mexico to dump her body. She was found in a green dumpster wrapped in her own comforter. Chadwick–who had dry blood on his hands and scratches on his neck–was arrested and admitted to fabricating the handyman story.
Authorities have said the pair had argued about financial issues and a possible divorce.
In 2015, he was charged in her death but was able to post $1 million bail and was released, saying he was going to live with his father in Santa Barbara. When he didn’t show up for a hearing and investigators searched for him, they found he’d cleaned out his bank accounts.
Chadwick is facing 25 years to life, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. Prosecutors were also looking into whether anyone who helped Chadwick could face charges. He is set to be arraigned Wednesday, August 7 and said prosecutors were going to request he be denied bail.
“As prosecutors we will do everything in our power to get justice,” Spitzer said.