Ex-cop wanted for murder extradited from China after 21 years on the run

Dan Hiers Jr., a former Charleston police officer wanted for sexual abuse and murder, has been returned to the United States from China after more than two decades as a fugitive. The U.S. Marshals Service announced the extradition on Thursday.

Hiers, 53, was suspended from the Charleston Police Department in 2004 following accusations of sexual misconduct with a minor. He was arrested later that year for lewd acts on a child under 16 and released on bond. However, he failed to appear for his scheduled surrender in March 2005.

On the same day he was due to surrender, Hiers' wife, Ludmila, was found dead in their home, allegedly shot by Hiers while she slept. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and Hiers disappeared, becoming a fugitive. His case gained notoriety and was featured on television programs like "America's Most Wanted."

For over a decade, Hiers remained at large. In 2018, he was arrested in Shanghai, China, after authorities discovered he was living under the alias David Williams and working as an English teacher. Despite his capture, the extradition process was lengthy. The U.S. Marshals Service, along with international partners including the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, and the FBI, played critical roles in securing his return.

U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta stated, "Dan Hiers was in a position of public trust, but he betrayed that trust in the worst possible way. His return to South Carolina is both significant and rewarding." Hiers has been brought back to South Carolina to face charges.

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Dan Hiers was in a position of public trust, but he betrayed that trust in the worst possible way. His return to South Carolina is both significant and rewarding, and we thank our domestic and international partners for their tireless per