Authorities Arrest Prolific Fugitive Four Years After Prison Escape
Life on the lam is fraught with uncertainty, but federal authorities say 51-year-old Tyler Adams was able to evade arrest for more than four years by adopting a slew of aliases while committing a string of additional crimes across the U.S. and Mexico.
According to reports, Adams escaped from prison in Hawaii in 2019 following a conviction on charges related to the theft of $130,000 from multiple banks and a ring valued at $5,000. He had previously been convicted of fraud in a scheme that involved posing as his parents to obtain millions of dollars in credit.
His alleged crimes became even more serious after he escaped custody in Hawaii, police say. Adams reportedly began dating Racquel Sabean, a U.S. Navy veteran, after introducing himself as Paul Phillips.
They had a child and the three of them traveled to Mexico in April 2022. Just over a month later, Sabean was found dead in Tijuana. Following an Amber Alert in the area, their 7-month-old daughter was found safe.
Although Mexican investigators were able to question him regarding the victim’s disappearance, authorities say he crossed back into the U.S. a short time later using yet another assumed name.
“Adams entered the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2022, using the alias of Aaron Bain,” the FBI reported at the time. “Adams is known to use multiple fake and stolen identities.”
According to police, he has used at least a dozen other aliases during his time on the run. In addition to a warrant related to his escape from prison, Adams is also wanted by the FBI in connection with Sabean’s murder. Her father has since spoken out publicly regarding his misgivings about the man he knew as Paul Phillips.
“He’s nice to you,” David Sabean recalled his daughter telling him. “But when you’re not around, he is not so nice to me.”
He said that there were a number of “red flags” throughout their relationship, adding that he is convinced Adams was responsible for his daughter’s death.
The fugitive was arrested in California and is set to be extradited back to Hawaii.
