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Escanaba fugitive to be featured on Investigation Discovery

James Meese, formerly of Escanaba, has been a fugitive for more than 20 years.

LOS ANGELES — Wednesday’s episode of “In Pursuit with John Walsh,” airing at 9 p.m. Central time on Investigation Discovery, is featuring a segment on Michigan fugitive James Meece.

In Escanaba, a young girl comes forward in 1990 with a horrific revelation — she’s been abused for years by James Meece.

Meece immediately flees. The career con man and criminal is captured by police and serves time in prison, but once released, he defies his parole and flees the state.

He remains at large, and police hope that with Walsh’s help, they can finally bring Meece to justice and end the nightmare for his victim and her family.

Meece has been on the run for more than 20 years and is now in his 70s. He could be using the aliases Anthony Bennetti or James Mercer. He’s around 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a medium build and grey hair. His knuckles are tattooed to spell “Hell” and “I heart sex.” He also has tattoos on his arms and a teardrop tattoo under one of his eyes. However, he may have gotten those removed. He likes to say he was a prisoner of war in Vietnam and is known to seek out the company of veterans.

Authorities believe he could be in California, Kentucky, Indiana or Ohio and is likely traveling through the country using a motorhome or a pull behind trailer and often frequents campgrounds or places that are off the radar.

Viewers with any information about Meece’s whereabouts may text or call the hotline at 1-833-3-PURSUE, or to submit online at the dedicated hub at InPursuitTips.com. These resources are both staffed by trained operators who will accept anonymous tips and alert the proper authorities.

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