CAPTURED: Convicted killer who escaped Canadian prison arrested in San Diego

WANTED: Roderick Muchikekwanape

Washington's Most Wanted's David Rose has more

CAPTURED: - The U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement in San Diego arrested Roderick Muchikekwanape, 42, on March 26, 2021 after receiving multiple anonymous tips from the public.

The investigation led law enforcement to the UCSD Hillcrest Hospital in San Diego, where Muchikekwanape was located and arrested without incident.

Muchikekwanape was taken to the Federal Courthouse for booking and will be held pending extradition to Canada.

Chief Richard Craig said, "The U.S. Marshals Service recognizes the importance of cooperation between federal, state and local police agencies as well as the community it serves- especially when searching for dangerous fugitives. It is my sincere hope that the task force apprehending Muchikekwanape brings some sense of relief to the community."

Muchikekwanape was wanted after he escaped from a Canadian prison on Oct. 29, 2020. Muchikekwanape was serving a life sentence for a sexual assault and murder that occurred in 1998 in Winnipeg, Canada.

The Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals from the Western District of Washington and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Since its creation in 2010, the PNVOTF has arrested almost 14,000 violent fugitives for various offenses including homicide, failure to register as a sex offender, sex crimes, firearms, and federal probation violations.

ORIGINAL STORY:

U.S. Marshals are searching for a man convicted of rape and murder who escaped a Canadian prison and could be hiding out in Washington state.

Canadian authorities say Roderick Muchikekwanape is serving a life sentence for the crimes committed in 1998 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Bellingham Police say a surveillance photo from Friday morning, Oct. 30th, 2020, shows a man matching his description at a gas station in Sumas, just south of the US-Canada border.

Authorities say he escaped from a prison in Mission, British Columbia the night before and believe he may have crossed the border into the U.S.

The U.S. Marshals-led Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force said March 18 that Marshals are still searching for Muchikekwanape in Washington state.

Image 1 of 3

▼

Muchikekwanape is 6' 1" tall, weighs 225 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He is known to use aliases "Much," "Roderick Toot Much," "Rodney Muchikekwanape," "Thomas Robert Gambler" and "Paul Edward Starkes."

If you spot him, stay away and call 911.

If you know where he's hiding, use the P3 Tips App on your smart phone to submit the information to Crime Stoppers anonymously, or call the hot line at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). A cash reward of up to $1,000 is yours if your tip helps lead to his arrest.