Hawai'i bounty hunter calls Luster 'hardest guy we'd ever chased'
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman returned to a hero's welcome last night at Honolulu International Airport after his long and highly publicized quest to capture convicted rapist Andrew Luster.
Hawai'i-based bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman, carrying daughter Bonnie Jo, 4, talked to the media last night at Honolulu International Airport upon returning from Los Angeles. At left are Chapman's longtime partner, Beth Smith, carrying her son, Gary, 2; and Timothy Chapman, Duane's brother.
Chapman and his brother Timothy were greeted by a small entourage of well-wishers and private security guards in Honolulu after spending the past six months searching for Luster. The Hawai'i-based bounty hunter and his team captured Luster on June 18 on a street in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, following a tip that the great-grandson of cosmetics legend Max Factor was living there.
Luster had fled after he was accused of multiple rapes between 1996 and 2000. Luster jumped his
$1 million bail in January and he was convicted in absentia of rape, poisoning and drug possession, and sentenced to 124 years in prison.
Chapman said last night that a Ventura County judge has assured him that he will receive his share — $150,000 plus expenses — for capturing Luster. He said he expects that to be made official at an Aug. 5 court hearing.
Chapman characterized his search for Luster as "the greatest stunt I've ever done." He has been a bounty hunter for about 25 years.
"You couldn't put yourself inside of Andrew Luster because it's hard to be that kind of guy," Chapman said. "So to out-guess him was very hard. He's very intelligent, a college grad, so he was the hardest guy we'd ever chased."
During their scuffle Chapman said Luster spit at him and threatened to "dance on your grave." Luster also said he knew the "Dog" would capture him, Chapman said.
Chapman, his son Leland, and brother Timothy apprehended Luster. The struggle attracted the attention of Mexican police, who arrested Luster and Chapman and his crew.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
Luster was returned to the United States, but the Chapmans were charged with depriving Luster of his liberty and jailed. Mexican authorities then released the Chapmans, but they were ordered to remain in Puerto Vallarta to face trial.
Duane "Dog" Chapman, right, and his brother, Timothy, arrived in Hawai'i yesterday after hunting down a convicted rapist and spending time in a Mexico jail.
Reports out of Mexico say Chapman disobeyed the order and was considered a fugitive. But Chapman and his longtime companion Beth Smith said last night that he has not missed a court appearance and will cooperate with Mexican authorities.
"Dog will not just snub his nose at the Mexico authorities," Smith said. "We want to take care of this. We want to take our fines in lieu of jail, which is an option in Mexico. We will return to Mexico when our lawyers say so."
Chapman said he will take a two-week break before taking on his next job. In the meantime, he will savor his greatest hunt and the publicity it brought him.
"We went into Kmart in Los Angeles and a guy just took off and ran. And the Kmart guy goes, 'There goes one of your guys,' " Chapman said.
