In a shocking turn of events, Aled Evans, a resident of Llanrwst in Conwy, Wales, learned that he had sold his rural home to Daniel Andreas San Diego, a man who had been on the FBI’s most wanted list for over two decades. The sale transpired in August 2023, with San Diego purchasing the property for £425,000. Using the alias Danny Webb, he apparently found the location to be the “ideal place to keep your head down,” as Evans articulated. San Diego’s imminent arrest prompted conversations about the nature of his erstwhile existence in Wales.
San Diego was apprehended following a long manhunt related to his alleged involvement in bombings in San Francisco back in 2003. On August 2003, explosions occurred on the campus of a biotechnology firm, followed by a nail bomb incident at a nutritional products company a month later. The FBI placed a $250,000 bounty on his head for his suspected role in these attacks, along with the designation of being America’s first domestic terrorist to be featured on their most wanted list, following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. Notably, he found himself on that list alongside infamous figures such as Osama Bin Laden, who was killed by US forces in Pakistan in 2011.
Upon selling his home, Evans noted that San Diego was particularly engrossed by the woodland surrounding the property and expressed enthusiasm over its potential for mountain biking. Evans recounted how San Diego spent a considerable amount of time enjoying the view from the balcony during his home viewing, which was likely a deciding factor in his purchase. Despite this cordial interaction, Evans remained perplexed by San Diego’s apparent indifference towards certain unfinished repair works on the property, such as a damaged summer house.
The house is characterized as a charming white villa, featuring a balcony that offers stunning vistas of the surrounding rolling hills and a well-maintained garden. Located near Maenan, off the prominent A470 roadway in North Wales, it isn’t exactly isolated; rather, it’s along an unmade track that is frequented by local foot traffic. Evans conveyed that he appreciated the aesthetics and ambiance of the location, but the realization that he hosted a fugitive for a short period struck him as surreal.
Evans described San Diego as amiable and well-spoken, who shared that his work in the IT sector had led him to the foothills of Wales. The two met briefly on the day of the move, lasting about 20 minutes. Evans noted that San Diego was unhurried and seemed to be quite composed as he took in his new surroundings. The two had seemingly exchanged pleasantries without any indication of San Diego’s troubled past or the severe allegations against him.
News of San Diego’s arrest reached Evans through a former neighbor, who presented the information as almost unbelievable. “It’s a perfect place to hide,” Evans remarked, unveiling the layers of disbelief tied to the revelation that a wanted man could blend in so seamlessly within the community. Evans lamented how San Diego’s mishap would diminish his appreciation and enjoyment of that spectacular view he once held dear.
The FBI has maintained that San Diego is linked to an extremist ideology centered around animal rights advocacy, and the nature of his bombings reflected a radicalized approach intended to instill fear and incite chaos. Investigators have expressed the potential lethality of his actions, marking a dark chapter in his life that culminated in a decade-long evasion from the law, only to end abruptly in a quiet Welsh village months after acquiring his new sanctuary. The shocking juxtaposition of ordinary life in Wales amidst such a serious criminal backdrop sheds light on the extraordinary lengths some individuals go to evade capture, and how easily they can blend into communities that are unaware of their past.
