Brian Anthony Williams, 50, was arrested on October 6 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at his workplace on Mission Boulevard in San Diego, ending a 14-year run from the law. Williams had been charged in 2012 in connection with the alleged kidnapping, assault and shooting of a woman in Davenport, Iowa, and fled before he could be brought to justice. For years, he lived under the alias “Troy,” working as a chef and even appearing in local media interviews under his assumed name.
TL;DR: Williams was charged in 2012 with first-degree kidnapping, assault causing serious injury, conspiracy and first-degree arson over an alleged attack on a woman in Davenport, Iowa, carried out with three other men. He was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution in 2013. After 14 years living under the alias “Troy” in San Diego, he was arrested on Oct. 6 by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
The 2012 Alleged Attack in Davenport
According to the Des Moines Register, Williams was charged in 2012 in connection with the kidnapping, assault and shooting of a woman in Davenport, Iowa. Prosecutors alleged the attack was carried out together with three other men.
The charges included first-degree kidnapping, assault causing serious injury, conspiracy and first-degree arson — among the most serious offenses under Iowa law. In 2013, Williams was additionally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution after he disappeared.
Fourteen Years Under the Name “Troy”
While authorities were searching for him, Williams built a quiet new life in San Diego. He lived under the alias “Troy,” worked as a chef, and reportedly was interviewed by local media under his assumed identity — all while wanted on serious felony charges in Iowa.
His three alleged co-defendants did not escape the same way. Each faced the legal process in Iowa and served their sentences, while Williams remained at large for more than a decade.
How the Marshals Caught Up With Him
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force tracked Williams to his workplace on Mission Boulevard in San Diego, where he was taken into custody on October 6. The arrest capped a 14-year manhunt that spanned from the Midwest to the California coast.
Williams will now face the Iowa charges he fled in 2012, along with the federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Williams has been arrested and charged, not convicted. He is entitled to the presumption of innocence, and the allegations dating back to 2012 will be adjudicated in court.
Why the Case Never Went Cold
Fugitive cases like Williams’ are kept active by the U.S. Marshals Service, whose Fugitive Task Forces pursue offenders who flee state jurisdiction. Even when leads dry up, warrants do not expire — meaning the 2012 Iowa charges were waiting for him the moment investigators got a fresh lead in San Diego. Williams’ decision to live openly under an alias, working a public-facing job as a chef and even speaking to local media, ultimately gave investigators the trail they needed. His arrest on October 6 at his Mission Boulevard workplace shows how quickly a long-dormant case can close once a fugitive’s new identity surfaces. He now returns to Iowa to answer charges that are more than a decade old, joined by the 2013 federal charge for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brian Anthony Williams?
Brian Anthony Williams, 50, is a fugitive who was charged in 2012 in connection with the alleged kidnapping, assault and shooting of a woman in Davenport, Iowa. He spent 14 years on the run before being arrested in San Diego on October 6.
What is he charged with?
Williams faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, assault causing serious injury, conspiracy and first-degree arson stemming from the alleged 2012 attack in Davenport. He was also charged in 2013 with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
How did he avoid capture for 14 years?
He lived under the alias “Troy” in San Diego, worked as a chef, and was reportedly interviewed by local media under his assumed name.
What happened to his alleged co-defendants?
The three other men charged in connection with the alleged attack faced the legal process in Iowa and served their sentences, according to the Des Moines Register.
Who arrested him?
The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force arrested Williams on October 6 at his workplace on Mission Boulevard in San Diego.
What happens next?
Williams is expected to face the pending Iowa charges as well as the federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.
