Chad Hower - The TikTok Fugitive

Part One

Chad’s first marriage

Chad Hower was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, which is also where he met his first wife, Nancy Oberlander. Chad and Nancy wed in Kentucky October of 1994, when the two were just 19/20. Shortly after they wed, Chad began to pursue his dreams of becoming a software engineer.

Chad’s lucrative career begins

In 1995, after briefly working contract roles, Chad was offered a lucrative opportunity in 1995 at Eastman in Tennessee. Chad and Nancy had their son Aarys (he prefers Alex) in 1996, in the state of Tennessee. This is the only state where Chad, Nancy, and Alex lived together as a family. After working at Eastman for several years, Chad realized he was not being challenged enough at work. So, he began looking for other opportunities, and began working as a contractor once again. Chad continued to work in contract roles across multiple states until early 2001, when he left the United States permanently.

Chad and Nancy separate

Chad broke things off with Nancy around this time, and they separated. According to Chad, they were married far too young, and the dynamic of their relationship in its entirety was more like a friendship, instead of a marriage. In 2002, when Alex was 5-6, Chad and Nancy came up with a parenting plan. Over the span of several years, Nancy would violate their custody arrangement, eventually kidnapping Alex and moving him to Pennsylvania without notifying the court in Knox County, Tennessee, which had jurisdiction over Alex’s custodial arrangement until he turned 18.

Chad is eventually granted custody of Alex, and Alex relocated overseas to live with Chad and his second wife. By 2006/2007, Chad had an incredibly successful career at Microsoft, where he was the Regional Developer Adviser for Microsoft Middle East and Africa. Within this role, Chad was responsible for 85 countries that spanned across four continents, and 10 time zones.

While the family lived in Turkey and Cyprus, Alex would travel to the U.S. for summer visitation with his mother. However, Chad decided not to send Alex in the summer of 2007 after Nancy stopped contacting Alex, and for several months. Additionally, Chad was hesitant due to the fact that Nancy failed to return Alex back to his father in the summer of 2006.

How the FBI got involved

In November of 2006, a Pennsylvania judge takes emergency jurisdiction over Alex’s custodial agreement after Nancy lied, claiming Alex was born in Pennsylvania. Once Alex did not return to the U.S. for visitation in the summer of 2007, a kidnapping report was filed in January of 2008 with the Pennsylvania State Police. Chad spoke to an officer, clarifying the the situation, and was assured no charges would be filed. But… Chad’s problems were only just beginning. In early spring of 2008, two FBI agents showed up to Chad’s blind mother’s house.

Chad’s life was about to unravel. His career would be compromised, many of his relationships would be destroyed, and, he’d become a wanted man not only by the FBI, but he would have an INTERPOL red notice issued against him as well.