Fugitive Chef Arrested in San Diego After 14 Years on the Run for Iowa Crime
A man wanted in connection with a 2012 kidnapping and shooting in Iowa was apprehended by U.S. Marshals after living under an assumed identity as a chef in San Diego for nearly 14 years.
A fugitive accused in a 2012 Iowa kidnapping and shooting has been arrested in San Diego, California, after spending nearly 14 years living under an assumed name. Brian Anthony Williams, 50, was taken into custody Tuesday by U.S. Marshals.
Williams had been wanted since a 2012 case in Davenport, Iowa, where authorities allege he and co-conspirators kidnapped, assaulted, and shot a woman before abandoning her in a field. He faced charges including first-degree kidnapping, assault causing serious injury, conspiracy to commit a felony, first-degree arson, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, Williams allegedly fled Iowa in 2013. Federal investigators received a tip in September that he was living in San Diego under the name "Troy Williams" and working as a chef.
Investigators discovered that Williams, under his assumed identity, had gained local recognition. Media reports and publications featured "Troy Williams" as the head chef at Miss B's Coconut Club in Mission Beach. One profile in The Times of San Diego reportedly detailed his alleged upbringing and experiences with discrimination.
Authorities had previously listed Williams as a fugitive, with his image appearing on the Southern District of Iowa's most-wanted list. His capture occurred at a business located in the 3700 block of Mission Boulevard.
"This arrest is a perfect example of those who think they have bested law enforcement and evaded arrest," said U.S. Marshal Ted Kamatchus of the Southern District of Iowa. "Deputy U.S. Marshals remain resolute in their relentless pursuit of the most dangerous offenders in our society."
Williams is expected to be extradited to Iowa to face the charges stemming from the 2012 incident.