Captured

Back in the fall of 2018, we published six episodes of this podcast, laying out the story of Peter Chadwick’s crimes, his arrest, the beginning of his court proceedings, and how he was able to escape justice – for a while. In this final episode, Peter Chadwick is safely back in custody after more than four years as a fugitive.

In the episode, you’ll hear the voices of Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, and United States Marshal David Singer, who came together to hold a joint press conference earlier this month.

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Chapter 1: Making Headlines

Maybe it was the setting: a large, lovely home in a private community.  Or the town itself: Newport Beach, California, a peaceful coastal city with miles of gorgeous beaches.  Maybe it was that the family was well-off; people always seem to be interested in the lifestyles of affluent Orange County residents.  Maybe it was all the crazy twists and turns… from tales of phantom handymen, to body snatchers, to several unbelievable – but true – facts about a certain graffiti-scarred dumpster.  Or maybe this story just hit people in the heart… with compassion and grief for the three boys who were left behind.

Whatever the reason, Peter Chadwick’s story has fascinated people for years. It has been the subject of TV shows and magazine articles, countless news stories, and – of course – this podcast.  People all over the world have followed this case, and the manhunt for a murderer who got away.  Some people may want to know all the tiny details, others might strive to understand how something like this could even happen… but plenty of us also wanted closure.  And if you’re one of those people, you’ve come to the right place.

(Intro)

Welcome to “Countdown to Capture”.  I’m Jennifer Manzella, your host for this podcast.  Back in the fall of 2018, as the spokesperson for the Newport Beach Police Department, I narrated six episodes laying out the story of Peter Chadwick’s crimes, his arrest, the beginning of his court proceedings, and how he was able to escape justice – for a while.  If you haven’t listened to those earlier episodes, you might want to do that now.  If you would just like a refresher on how we got here to Episode 7, we’ll give you a brief timeline in the next chapter.

Today, you’ll hear the voices of Newport Beach Police Chief Jon Lewis, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer, and United States Marshal David Singer.  The audio you’ll be hearing is from a joint press conference earlier this month.

Chapter 2: How We Got Here

Our story begins with a family of five: Peter Chadwick, his wife Quee Choo (who is known as Q.C.) and their three boys.  Q.C. is a doting and engaged parent, a stay-at-home mom who puts her sons and their education at the top of her priority list.  Peter Chadwick is known as a quiet man: docile, shy, and soft-spoken.  Their sons are ages 9, 12, and 15.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012: Peter Chadwick fails to pick up his two youngest sons from the bus stop after school, and NBPD officers respond to the Chadwick home for a welfare check. There is no sign of Peter or Q.C.  Officers grow more concerned when they check the master bathroom.  There is a broken vase next to the bathtub, and small smudges and drops of blood in the tub, on the floor, and on the walls.

Other evidence in the home reinforces that something is wrong.  Officers find Q.C.’s cell phone and wedding ring lying in the counter in the bathroom, and the family safe is open… and empty.

Thursday, October 11, 2012: The next morning, at about 5:30 a.m., Peter Chadwick resurfaces near the Mexican border, claiming that a handyman named Juan killed Q.C., kidnapped Peter, and then fled with Q.C.’s body.  Investigators quickly identify Peter as the primary suspect in his wife’s disappearance and he is arrested for her murder.  But there is still no sign of Q.C.

Thursday, October 18, 2012: One week later, we found her, in a remote area of San Diego.  The body of Q.C. Chadwick was recovered in a dumpster, wrapped in a comforter from her own bed.

December 2012: Peter Chadwick is able to make bail, which has been reduced to $1,000,000.  He is forced to surrender his US and his UK passports.

For a while, Peter met his obligations to the criminal justice system.  He showed up for his court proceedings, kept in contact with his lawyer, and followed rules for visiting his sons (who were placed in protective custody of other family members). 

January 2015: After two years of watching his trial grow closer and closer, Peter Chadwick flees and becomes a fugitive from justice.  He takes large sums of money in cash.  Books he left behind show that Peter has researched how to change his identity and live off the grid.  He may not have access to his passports, but Peter Chadwick has the means to hide anywhere in the world.

And, for the next three-and-a-half years, Peter Chadwick remained a federal fugitive, wanted by the Newport Beach Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Multiple foreign agencies also joined in the search, casting a worldwide net for this murder suspect.

Chapter 3: The Countdown Begins

In September 2018, the Newport Beach Police Department held a press conference, along with our partners at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the US Marshals Service.  Together, we announced a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Peter Chadwick, who was now on the US Marshals 15 Most Wanted List. 

And we launched this podcast: “Countdown to Capture”.  To support the project, we also created a website at countdowntocapture.com, where viewers could see photos, listen to episodes, and read full transcripts of the podcast.  We didn’t know what to expect; no one had tried anything like this before.  But the results were incredible.  There were hundreds of thousands of downloads.  The podcast hit #24 on the iTunes charts here in the United States and also charted in Canada and in the UK.

Law enforcement continued their search, both here and abroad.  We knew we had to look everywhere.  Peter was born in England, had family in a number of foreign countries, and had travelled abroad extensively.  Investigators worked tirelessly to find Peter Chadwick and bring him to justice.

Through all of these efforts, which were multiplied by news and media organizations around the globe, tips began to flow in from every corner of the world – from our law enforcement partners and from people like you, people who heard about this story and wanted to help.  Peter Chadwick, a man who had evaded attention and capture for so long, now had thousands and thousands of extra eyes looking for him. As US Marshal David Singer explains:

[Marshal Singer’s voice shown in italics] There was a lot of media attention, there was the podcast, there was TV shows and I think he felt more pressure.  When these people feel pressure, they have to keep moving, they have to spend money, they have to use different IDs… they make mistakes.  Because they always think there is someone behind them.

And it was only a matter of time before Peter Chadwick made a mistake.

Chapter 4: Captured

Ten months, eight days, four hours and one minute.  That was the time it took between September 29, 2018, when Sgt. Court Depweg uttered these words in Episode 6:

[Sgt. Depweg’s voice shown in italics] Peter, we are coming for you… this begins your countdown to capture.

…and when Peter Chadwick once again felt Newport Beach Police Department handcuffs around his wrists.

After receiving hundreds and hundreds of tips, one of them led us right to our suspect.  Investigators were able to take a tip with some general information and work it through until, incredibly, we could pinpoint Peter’s exact location.

Peter Gregory Chadwick was located in Mexico on the night of Sunday, August 4, 2019.  With the help and cooperation of the United States Marshals Service and federal authorities in Mexico, he was flown to Los Angeles International Airport, where Newport Beach Detectives took him into custody at 10:01 a.m. the next morning.

So… what was he doing that whole time?  We believe that Peter Chadwick had been hiding in Mexico since his disappearance. He travelled throughout the country, never taking up a steady residence.  When he left, he had large sums of cash.  At first, he used this money to stay at luxury, high-end hotels and resorts.  He eventually lost that option when the hotels started requiring passport identification, which Peter could not provide.  He then turned to more modest accommodations in motels and hostels.

Peter also worked a number of odd jobs to supplement the cash he brought with him.  He used a variety of aliases and obtained several fake IDs.  The names he used include “Paul Cook”, “Paul Craig”, and “John Franklin”.

Did Peter plan to run forever?  Well, yes.

[Chief Lewis’s voice shown in italics] Our investigation shows that Peter Chadwick never intended to return from Mexico.  He had no intentions of coming back to Orange County to face trial, or raise the three sons that he had abandoned.

Peter’s future is now back in the hands of the justice system.  When he appeared at the Orange County Central Court on Wednesday, August 7 at 8:30 a.m., bail was denied.  Peter will remain in custody at the Orange County Jail until his court proceedings are complete.

And, almost seven years after she was killed, there is once again hope for closure for Q.C. Chadwick, and for all who loved her.

[Todd Spitzer’s voice shown in italics] May she rest in peace and may her family know that we will do everything in the power of the criminal justice system to get justice for this amazing woman.

Chapter 5: Thanks

[Chief Lewis’s voice shown in italics] We solved this case years ago, but that was not the end of our duty.  We will pursue justice for our victims, for their loved ones, and for the friends, neighbors, and community members whose lives changed irrevocably one Wednesday in October 2012.  Our goal – with this investigation, with the podcast, and with our partners in law enforcement – has been to bring Peter Chadwick to Orange County so that he can stand trial and answer for his actions.

They say that law enforcement is a team sport… and never was that truer than in the case of Peter Chadwick.  We received help from the public, the media, law enforcement in the US and worldwide.  This is not just a proud moment for the Newport Beach Police Department; it is a proud moment for all of us.

We extend thanks to our staff at the Newport Beach Police Department, to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the United States Marshals Service, our federal partners, and the law enforcement agencies in Mexico and across the globe who offered us so much assistance during this manhunt.

Thank you to everyone all over the world who was touched by this story.  Thank you to each person who picked up a phone or typed out a message to share tips and information with law enforcement.  Thank you to everyone who shared this story and helped spread the word about our international manhunt.  And thank you to everyone who worked on this case throughout the years – because of you, Peter Chadwick is now in custody.

And now we hope you’ll do one more thing for us.  Keep caring.  Keep being invested in what is right, in having compassion for the victims of violent crime, and in supporting public safety.  This case may be wrapping up, but there are other fugitives out there, other investigations that just need a little help – and take it from us, one little tip can make all the difference.