San Diego Chef Arrested After 14 Years as Iowa Fugitive, Officials Say

Brian Anthony Williams Arrested in San Diego After 14 Years as a Fugitive

Brian Anthony Williams, 50, was arrested on Tuesday after spending 14 years allegedly evading authorities for a kidnapping, assault, and shooting in Iowa, NBC News reported. The U.S. Marshals Service took Williams into custody at Miss B’s Coconut Club in Mission Beach, where he had worked for approximately a decade. He now awaits extradition to Scott County, Iowa, to face charges including first-degree kidnapping, assault, conspiracy to commit a felony, and first-degree arson.

Decade-Long Double Life in Mission Beach Kitchens

For roughly ten years, Williams operated in plain sight under the alias “Troy Williams,” eventually rising to lead the kitchen at Miss B’s Coconut Club. Local media appearances in print and television over the years failed to trigger an arrest until the U.S. Marshals Service tracked his whereabouts to San Diego. Eddie Jurado, the restaurant’s general manager and Williams’ former roommate, learned of the arrest when a friend called him on Tuesday morning to search for “Brian Anthony Williams” online. Jurado recalled that a mug shot immediately appeared on the screen, revealing the true identity of the man who had run the restaurant kitchen for nearly nine years following the departure of the original chef.

Williams Faces Kidnapping and Assault Charges in Iowa

Williams faces severe felony counts tied to an incident in Scott County, Iowa, where prosecutors allege he and co-conspirators kidnapped, assaulted, and shot a woman before leaving her in an open field. In addition to the primary charges of first-degree kidnapping and assault, authorities filed charges of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. As of Wednesday following the arrest, local officials had not yet confirmed the exact timeline for Williams’ return to Iowa to face the judicial proceedings.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Fugitive Chef Arrest

What specific charges does Brian Anthony Williams face in Iowa?

Williams faces charges of first-degree kidnapping, assault, conspiracy to commit a felony, first-degree arson, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution stemming from a 2011 case in Scott County, Iowa.

How did law enforcement locate the fugitive in San Diego?

The U.S. Marshals Service tracked Williams after discovering he was living in the area under the name “Troy Williams” and had previously appeared in local print and television news features.

What was the reaction of coworkers at Miss B’s Coconut Club?

Restaurant colleagues expressed total shock and disbelief upon learning the news, noting that Williams had served as head chef for nearly a decade and lived undetected by his true identity.

More on this story: San Diego Chef Brian Williams Arrested After 14 Years on the Run