Iowa fugitive arrested in San Diego after 14 years on run

A 50‑year‑old Iowa fugitive was arrested without incident on Tuesday in San Diego’s Mission Beach neighborhood, where he had been living under the name Troy Williams and working as a chef at a local Caribbean restaurant, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Williams, whose real name is Brian Anthony Williams, has been wanted since October 2012 for the alleged kidnapping, assault and shooting of a woman in Davenport, Iowa. He faces charges of first‑degree kidnapping, assault causing serious injury, conspiracy to commit a felony and first‑degree arson, as well as a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

For nearly fourteen years the suspect evaded law enforcement while building a new life thousands of miles away. He appeared on CBS 8 San Diego in January as a chef named Troy Williams, a television appearance that became part of the trail that led authorities to him. In September, U.S. Marshals received information that he was living in San Diego under the alias and began investigating, finding local news reports featuring Troy Williams that confirmed the identity of the Iowa fugitive.

Williams is now in U.S. Marshals custody in San Diego and is awaiting extradition to Iowa, where he is expected to face the outstanding charges. U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Iowa Ted Kamatchus said the arrest demonstrates that those who think they have bested law enforcement can still be brought to justice, adding that deputy U.S. Marshals remain resolute in their pursuit of dangerous offenders.