Utah Fugitive Hiding in Plain Sight for 10 Years in Louisiana

Have ever thought to yourself, "I wish I could just disappear to a place where no one would find me"? Many of us have that thought when we just want to get away from the world. However, one Utah man had a much stronger motive when he chose to get away from it all by moving to Louisiana.

It seems "down the bayou" in Lafourche Parish is a great place to disappear. At least it worked for 49-year-old Richard Schleininger in Bayou Blue for more than 10 years. However, a trespassing incident in which Schleininger was questioned by police for riding a mower on land he didn't own apparently blew his cover.

Schleininger reportedly worked odd jobs around the Bayou Blue area for more than 10 years. He always worked for cash and other than this most recent incident and an animal complaint filed back in 2014 authorities had no contact with the man.

Back on January 8th, Schleininger was arrested following a trespassing complaint. Upon his arrest, the man gave authorities a false name and he carried no ID. He was charged with criminal trespassing and resisting an officer. He posted bail and was released the following day.

However, his fingerprints did not lie and his true identity was revealed. That's when authorities in Utah notified deputies in Lafourche Parish that Schleininger was wanted in that state on aggravated assault and felony theft charges from 2003 and 2004. He was rearrested on January 23rd and is now awaiting extradition back to Utah.