Newport Beach man charged with murdering his wife and dumping her body

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12HF2960

Date: January 28, 2015

WANTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT: NEWPORT BEACH MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING WIFE AND DISPOSING OF BODY IN UNKNOWN LOCATION

*Defendant out of custody on bail was scheduled to appear for a scheduled pre-trial hearing today

NEWPORT BEACH – A Newport Beach man is wanted by law enforcement after failing to appear for a scheduled court hearing today on a charge for murdering his wife in their Newport Beach home. Peter Gregory Chadwick, 50, is charged with one felony count of murder faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. The defendant was out of custody after posting $1 million bail on Dec. 21, 2012, and failed to appear for a scheduled pre-trial hearing today.

On the morning of Oct. 10, 2012, Chadwick is accused of murdering his wife, Quee Chadwick, in their Newport Beach home over a dispute regarding a possible divorce and related financial issues. He is accused of then disposing of the victim’s body in an unknown location.

That afternoon, neither Chadwick nor the victim arrived to pick up their children from school. Another parent drove the children home and then requested a welfare check from the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) when the Chadwicks could not be located. A subsequent search of the home by NBPD revealed blood and signs of a struggle inside. NBPD began investigating the whereabouts of the couple.

Sometime between the morning of the murder and the morning of Oct. 11, 2012, Chadwick is accused of driving to San Diego near the border of Mexico and contacting the San Diego Police Department. The defendant was arrested by NBPD in San Diego on Oct. 11, 2012.

Anyone with information regarding the defendant’s whereabouts is encouraged to Supervising District Attorney Investigator Anthony Sosnowski at (714) 347-8492. A booking photo of the defendant is available upon request.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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