Alleged Arsonist Fugitive Presumed Dead then Re-emerged

CONCORD, NH — The U.S. Marshals Service is asking for the public’s help finding an arson suspect with alleged violent tendencies who has been on the lam for about 19 years, according to this week’s District of New Hampshire - New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force Fugitive of the Week alert. James R. Hill Jr., 73, is wanted on an arson warrant that was issued by the Belknap County Sheriff’s Department in May 1998.

Editor’s Note: This post was derived from information supplied by the U.S. Marshals. It does not indicate a conviction. This link explains the name removal request process for NH Patch police reports.

Hill is 6 feet tall, weighs around 200 lbs., and has hazel eyes and brown hair. He has no known scars or tattoos. Along with the arson charge, Hill is suspected of stealing a 39-foot sailboat in January 1998 from the Florida Keys. The boat, at the time, was worth about $150,000, according to Deputy Marshal Jeffrey White.

“The sailboat was recovered near the Key Largo, FL, area, run ashore, with no sign of Hill,” White noted. “A search by the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities was conducted. Hill was not located and declared dead/lost at sea. Sometime later, Hill was spotted again in southern Florida and local authorities were working to locate Hill.”

According to White, during the process of searching for Hill, a vehicle was found in a local river with some of his personal belongings inside – but there was no sign of Hill and a body was never recovered.

“Hill is likely to still alive and could be in hiding in the islands off of Florida, but he still has extensive ties to the New England area,” White stated. "Hill was known to work as a carpenter or as a handyman (and) is also known for gambling, and violence when drinking.”

White said that Hill was featured on the "America’s Most Wanted” program in November 2009, but the program does not appear to be archived online. He added that Hill allegedly has “violent tendencies.”

If you see Hill or anyone who looks like him, do not try to apprehend him yourself. Contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 603-225-1632, at 877-WANTED-2, or local police.