California fire chief accused of murder continues to elude police, search widens

SACRAMENTO, May 10 (UPI) -- Less than a week after the search began for accused murderer Orville "Moe" Fleming, Sacramento police are receiving tips from as far away as Oregon and have a number of leads on the wanted fire chief.

Fleming is accused of murdering his fiance, after the body of Sarah Jane Douglas was discovered at a house in Sacramento County last last week.

Police now say Douglas, although seemingly in an actual relationship with Fleming at the time of her death, was a prostitute who met the firefighter-turned-fugitive on Redbook.com. Investigators have questioned Fleming's family and friends and even other prostitutes to get a picture of the man they're chasing.

Among working theories being tossed around by police in Sacramento: Fleming may have shaved his head and mustache, could have taken refuge in forested terrain he knows well from fighting forest fires and may be receiving aid from other prostitutes he knows.

Although Sacramento County Sheriff's Detective Brian Meux acknowledged that a search like this could drag on indefinitely, he is confident either police or circumstance will flush Fleming out.

"Resources eventually run out, both physical and emotional as well as financial," Meux said. "If he's not caught today, he'll be found someday in the future and we'll have our resolution then."