Countdown to Capture
In this episode, you’ll hear the voice of Detective Sergeant Court Depweg, sharing personal messages from us at the NBPD. Messages to you, the listener. To the three Chadwick boys, who are never far from our thoughts. And, finally, to Peter Chadwick himself. We know he’s out there somewhere, and we’re pretty sure he’s listening.
Listen to the Podcast
See the Photos
Read the Transcript
Chapter 1: The Task Force
The idea behind a police task force is to combine personnel, resources, and ideas to achieve a common goal. Task forces are formed for a variety of reasons: child abductions, police officers killed in the line of duty, narcotics enforcement… basically any time an investigation will consume a single agency’s resources and capabilities.
[Sgt. Depweg’s voice shown in italics]
In law enforcement, we work together. Teamwork is a force multiplier, and part of why we are so successful.
In November of 2017, it was a task force that brought the Newport Beach Police Department together with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and Interpol. We all joined forces for one reason…to capture Peter Chadwick.
No one can avoid capture forever. Today, technology is making the world smaller and more connected than it ever has been before. Law enforcement has capabilities and training that our predecessors never even dreamed of. Social media platforms, community involvement, and good old dedication and intelligence… together, we can use all of these tools to find anyone, living or dead.
(Intro)
Welcome to “Countdown to Capture”. I’m Jennifer Manzella, your host for this podcast and the spokesperson for the Newport Beach Police Department. In Episodes 1 through 5, I told you the story of murderer and fugitive Peter Chadwick. How he killed his wife, wrapped her body in a comforter from her own bed, and then left her body in a dumpster 100 miles away from their home. How he blamed these crimes on Juan, a mysterious man that – somehow – no one else ever saw. And how Peter was able to make bail and escape justice before his trial even began.
At every step along the way, his three sons were also victims… left to fend for themselves while their father put himself first, without a thought for their support, security, or well-being.
Today, you’ll hear the voice of Detective Sergeant Court Depweg, sharing personal messages from us at the NBPD. Messages to you, the listener. To the three Chadwick boys, who are never far from our thoughts. And, finally, to Peter Chadwick himself. We know he’s out there somewhere, and we’re pretty sure he’s listening.
Chapter 2: Where is Peter Chadwick?
[Sgt. Depweg’s voice shown in italics]
We don’t know…that’s the real answer. I know it’s not what you want to hear nor is it what I want to tell Q.C.’s family. We are as frustrated as you are that he was able to flee. But that is the justice system that we live and work within. Like I said before, law enforcement is very successful. We don’t like to fail… but there comes a time in an investigation where we don’t have the answers to the most important questions.
In this case, we know that Peter killed Q.C. We know he stole his sons’ mother from them. We know he left Q.C. in a dumpster like trash. We know he made up a false story, blaming someone else for his actions. We know he planned his escape from justice once he was caught. We know he once again selfishly abandoned his three sons by fleeing.
What we don’t know is where he went. A man with his means and connections could be anywhere. That’s why we are asking our law enforcement partners and people throughout the world to help us catch this criminal.
We want to keep communities safe from criminals like Peter Chadwick, but we need your help.
Yes, you. Your help.
Peter Chadwick is out there, living a stolen second life as a free man, without facing the punishment he deserves, and without taking responsibility for his actions, or for the three boys – who are now growing into young men. And he’s living this lie amongst you, somewhere. He could be your neighbor, a guy filling up next to you at the local gas station, the person bagging your groceries, the man sitting on a bench in the park playing on his phone, the person in front of you in line at the post office…he could be anywhere in the world.
But you can be anywhere too.
Chapter 3: A Message to the Boys
[Sgt. Depweg’s voice shown in italics]
What do I say, boys, that hasn’t already been said to you multiple times? Am I supposed to say, “I’m sorry your father took your mother from you”? Or, “I’m sorry your father was selfish and abandoned you to fend for yourself”? These are impossible things to hear and to accept as young men.
The reality is there are no words that I, nor anyone else, can say that are ever going to heal the pain you have been put through by a man who was supposed to protect you. There is one thing, boys, that is worse than murder… and that is betrayal.
Boys: if you haven’t already learned, a man must be held accountable for his actions, even when that man is your father. Unfortunately, as sons, we at times inherit our father’s decisions, good or bad. It’s what we do with that burden that turns us into the men we grow up to be.
No one would blame you if you hate your father and never wanted to speak to him again. No one would blame you if you forgave him and wrapped your arms around him when you see him next. Just know, no matter what decision you make, that’s for you and you alone to decide. I would never judge you for making an impossible decision like that.
Just know that your father needs to be held responsible for what he’s done. And your mother – and you – deserve justice and some form of closure. I don’t want you to be under the impression that we will stop looking for him…we won’t…we can’t.
You will never forget your mom. Hold on to the last time you saw her before you headed off to school that day. Her smile, her hugs, the incredible love that she had for you before she “slipped the surly bonds of earth” to “touch the face of God”.
Chapter 4: Our Commitment
[Sgt. Depweg’s voice shown in italics]
The Newport Beach Police Department was committed to solving the murder of Q.C. Chadwick… and we did. We solved this heinous crime. Now we have a new mission and commitment: capturing Peter Chadwick. He will have his day in court to dispute the charges against him. That’s for another date and time. For now, Peter Chadwick is a federal fugitive. He is wanted for murder and fleeing from prosecution. He is wanted by state courts in the County of Orange and by federal courts in the Central District of California.
We are going to locate him and arrest him. We are committed to finding him, capturing him, and delivering him for trial.
Peter Chadwick is described as a white male, 5’7” tall, weighing 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He speaks with a slight British accent. He was born on February 18, 1964 and is 54 years old at the time that this podcast was recorded. Pictures of Peter – of how he looked back in 2012 – can be found at countdowntocapture.com. If you have any information about Peter Chadwick or his whereabouts, please call 1-800-550-NBPD or email us at tips@nbpd.org. Thank you.
Chapter 5: Countdown to Capture
This is a message for Peter Chadwick.
[Sgt. Depweg’s voice shown in italics]
Peter… end this now. You made the decision to take Q.C.’s life, to steal her from her children, to leave your boys stranded on the side of a road to fend for themselves, to flee like a coward and not face the consequences of your actions. Think about the impact you’ve had on these three boys.
Make the decision now to stop this and begin to make amends with your sons. For once, make a decision for someone other than yourself.
You and I both know you fled because you can’t look your sons in the eyes. This is your chance to turn yourself in and end this. It’s time to think of someone other than yourself and what benefits you. Think about your boys.
Peter, we are coming for you… this begins your countdown to capture.
Oh I hope Peter is captured soon. Such a wonderfully through podcast series. Praying for the three sons.
He’s been captured. He was hiding in Mexico. Here’s the link.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/millionaire-fugitive-peter-chadwick-captured-in-mexico/
Aug.6, ’19, Peter (aka Paul) had been living in my small town in Central Mexico for quite some time. He was seeing my friend and employee, she later died, on Mothers’ Day, in a car accident where supposedly he was driving. He ‘escaped’ with minor injuries and she died. From the beginning this was very suspicious, now more so. Many of us had strange feelings about him and now we can see why.
Thank you, we appreciate the information. Your comment has been forwarded to our investigators.