|
Post by Scumhunter on Jan 14, 2017 1:36:58 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: mlive.com) From wxyz.com (ABC 7 Detroit): DETROIT (WXYZ) - This week, the U.S. Marshals are bringing us one of their top fugitives, wanted for nearly two decades. They say James Meece is good at keeping a low profile and stealing identities. His horrific crimes and his years on the run have the U.S. Marshals starting a whole new push to get this child rapist off our streets. “He’s a pedophile, he’s absconded from the sex offender registry, he’s a danger to children, he’s a danger to anyone that’s around him,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Rob Watson said. The 67-year-old has been wanted by state and federal authorities since 1999. “He is one of our top priorities because this guy is bad, when you harm a child you are capable of anything and we will do anything to find him,” Watson said. Convinced of raping two children in 1990, Meece served prison time and quickly took off once he was released. “He’s a master of playing the game - no job, nothing verifiable, he could be assuming someone else’s identity,” Watson said. Meece did a short stint in the Army, though the U.S. Marshals say he likes to pass himself off as a Vietnam Veteran. “And that’s what makes it so much more dangerous, when you have a person who’s well versed in fraud and evading capture, as well as someone has a predisposition to harming child,” Watson said. Convicted of rape, gun charges, theft and check fraud, Meece is at the top of the U.S. Marshals and Michigan State Police’s most wanted list with a last known address in Ypsilanti. “James Meece has family ties in the Upper Peninsula as well as Indiana and northern Ohio,” Watson said. Watson says he could be hiding anywhere and keeping a low profile, which is why they want you to know his face and identifiable tattoos. “On one of his hands across his knuckles he has- ‘I, a heart symbol, sex’ and on the other hand he’s got ‘Hell’ tattooed on his hands,” Watson said. “He’s tried to remove those tattoos himself scouring his skin with sandpaper trying to get this stuff removed.” James Meece is 5’10” and 175 pounds with black or grey hair and brown eyes. He should be considered armed and dangerous. As with all our fugitives featured on Detroit’s Most Wanted, The U.S. Marshals are offering a cash reward for information leading to his arrest. You can call them anytime at 313-234-5656 and remain anonymous.www.wxyz.com/news/most-wanted/detroits-most-wanted-us-marshals-search-for-a-convicted-pedophile-on-the-run-since-1999Thoughts? UPDATE: As of February 2020 anyone with information on this fugitive's whereabouts can also call or text "In Pursuit" on the Investigation Discovery channel at 833-378-7783 and/or submit a tip at the show's website: www.InPursuitTips.comAdmin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
|
|
|
Post by HeadMarshal on Jan 14, 2017 2:44:59 GMT -5
Without much media attention on this manhunt since 1999, I imagine James Meece could have blended into a small community somewhere in the Midwest.
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Jun 7, 2018 2:14:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on May 31, 2019 3:05:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Feb 4, 2020 18:56:05 GMT -5
Meece is now on the tip form for In Pursuit with John Walsh. I can confirm he will get a full profile in one of Season 2's remaining episodes.
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Feb 14, 2020 0:07:03 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Mar 3, 2020 19:45:15 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Mar 5, 2020 2:51:40 GMT -5
It's a good thing- but oh boy I think James Meece is the fugitive that has had the most clues given this season in helping to locate him:
-He claims to be a Vietnam Vet/POW/mercenary with PTSD and CIA informant but in reality only spent a few months in the military before being discharged. He wss first caught in 1990 at a Wisconsin VA hospital. He may be seeking out the company of veterans.
-In 2011, authorities found out Meece had married under the alias Anthony Bennetti (he may also use the alias James Mercer). The wife said he was not there anymore but he told her the same bogus ex-soldier story.
-Meece is currently in his early 70s 5'7" medium build and gray hair
-His knukle tattoos read out "Hell" and "I heart sex". There are tattoos on his arms and a teardrop tattoo under his eye, although they may have been removed by now.
-May be in California, Kentucky, Indiana or Ohio
-Likely traveling the country in a motor home or pull-behind trailer
-Often frequents campgrounds and other places below the radar.
|
|
|
Post by тσρтєиhυитєя on Mar 5, 2020 6:00:26 GMT -5
Honestly, the James Meece case is your run of the mill child molestor, and it is one of the worst kind of child molestor, charming man who talks to a single mother, only to molest her children.
Honestly this case is a pretty good example of why there should be harsher sentences on anyone who molests children rather than give harsher sentence to someone who deal or do drugs, the children that were Meece’s victims in 1989/1990 shouldn’t have to live in fear because our justice system is broken and because James Meece is a sicko.
The segment was really well put together but they didn’t into Meece’s background before 1988, but I really hope they can just finally catch Meece and bring him to justice once and for all.
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Mar 5, 2020 9:48:22 GMT -5
It is a good point as I'd like to hear the story about why he was this tattooed guy when the mother first met him- was he in a gang? And the teardrop tattoo- not always- but sometimes indicates you killed someone in prison. Is it just a teardrop tattoo for show or is there more behind it? But considering they had only a half hour, I thought they did an excellent job overall and got a lot of clues in.
|
|
|
Post by HeadMarshal on Mar 5, 2020 12:06:38 GMT -5
I think this case goes to show that even though someone is only wanted for Failing To Register/Parole Violation, it doesn't mean that there's not a horrible story and victims behind the case that got the offender the conviction. In theory, the mother and her four daughters are technically being re-victimized by James Meece not complying with his registered sex offender terms and therefore, not having the deal with the consequences of his actions.
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Mar 5, 2020 18:47:01 GMT -5
The other thing is important to make sure he hasn't re-victimized any other children since as John Walsh said, these guys don't change.
He was to serve 3-15 years. I take it he has at least six years left for skipping out or that's the way it usually works. My fear is an Arthur Crabtree situation where he gets a slap on the wrist. Hopefully that doesn't happen. Or at the very least he'll be a registered known offender and his victim's family will know where he's living for the rest of their lives.
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Aug 4, 2020 13:01:18 GMT -5
Meece has been arrested in the city of El Monte Los Angeles County! It seems the main way they tracked him was through a woman he was living with that they knew about prior to In Pursuit's airing (I do think it is the one they mentioned on the show though that they found about wya back in 2001), but they do mention the show in their press release. www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2020/080420.htm
|
|
|
Post by Scumhunter on Aug 4, 2020 13:21:22 GMT -5
Also apparently Covid-19 is what took so long for anyone going "wait, he was in that woman's home that they mentioned on In Pursuit" this entire time?" What I'd like to know is why this woman continued to date "Anthony Bennetti" after learning about his past. I'd like to think most would draw the line at convicted tier 3 pedophiles.
|
|
|
Post by outlawtaco on Aug 4, 2020 17:58:52 GMT -5
So glad this monster Is caught but did he have ties to the west coast like I thought he'd I heard he was leeching of someone in the midwest or south east not in california
|
|