U.S. Marshals Hunt Maryland Fugitive Convicted of Rape on Supervised Release

William John Shaeffer, 45, is wanted for a supervised release violation and considered a fugitive by federal authorities, nine years after DNA evidence caught up with him for a rape he committed more than two decades ago.

According to charging documents, in 2002 a female victim was using a payphone when she was approached by a man who offered the use of his phone at his residence. Once inside the home, the man pushed the victim down a flight of stairs, causing her to lose consciousness, then took her upstairs where he tied her up and forced her to have sex. The victim was later given a sexual assault forensic examination.

Investigators executed a DNA search warrant on Shaeffer and submitted his saliva to the Prince George's County DNA lab for comparison to the victim's forensic exam. "Nine years after the reported rape, Shaeffer was charged in connection to the crime," said Al Maresca, senior inspector with the U.S. Marshals Service. He was charged with first-degree rape, first-degree assault, first-degree sex offense, second-degree assault, and false imprisonment, and was later sentenced to 16 years in prison, followed by mandatory supervised release.

Records show Shaeffer's supervised release commenced in 2022 and does not expire until 2027. But according to court documents, Shaeffer violated the terms of his release on multiple occasions in 2025, including testing positive for drugs two months in a row, leaving the STAR Program on East Preston Street in Baltimore, and threatening a STAR supervising agent. A warrant was later issued for his arrest.

At one point during the investigation, Maresca said, "The suspect was more than 250 miles away, in Butner, North Carolina." His current whereabouts remain unknown, and federal agents have added him to Maryland's Most Wanted.

Maresca described Shaeffer as "a convicted sex offender," adding: "Any time an offender has a history of failing to abide by the terms of his release there's a concern for recidivism." Investigators also warned that Shaeffer is known to have violent tendencies. He stands about 5'7" and weighs approximately 160 pounds.

Anyone with information regarding Shaeffer's whereabouts is asked to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 202-819-5058.