A decomposing body found in a South Carolina home was identified as one of U.S. Marshals Service's 15 most wanted fugitives, according to a press release from the U.S. Marshals.
On Nov. 6, a South Carolina resident conducted a welfare check on neighbor that hadn't been seen in several weeks. The concerned neighbor discovered a decomposing body and contacted authorities. During the death investigation, authorities identified the body as U.S. Marshals Service's 15 Most Wanted fugitive Frederick Cecil McLean who had been on the run for more than 16 years.
"The suspect was Frederick Cecil McLean, 70. Authorities described him as a prolific abuser. He molested at least eight young girls for approximately 25 years," true crime author E.J. Hammon wrote in a Nov. 21 Twitter post.
McLean was allegedly going by the alias “James Fitzgerald” and had been living in the South Carolina home where his body was found for approximately 15 years.
Authorities will continue their investigations to determine if McLean had any assistance in avoiding arrest and to discover if he had any more still unidentified victims.
"The discovery of Frederick McLean’s body marks an end to the manhunt, but the investigation continues," U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis said, according to the press release. "I want to personally thank the men and women of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the Oconee County Coroner’s Office who dedicated hundreds of man hours helping the Marshals identify the body and gather evidence allowing us to gain a better picture of McLean’s life as a fugitive."
