( CNN ) -- A cop killer and child molester who has been on the U.S . Marshals Service 's 15 most-wanted fugitive list for nearly four years was captured early Wednesday , authorities said . Paul Clouston , 73 , was taken into custody at a men 's group home in Merced , California , said Deputy U.S . Marshal Kevin Connolly . Agents with the fugitive task force `` observed a man resembling Clouston seated in a chair and reading a newspaper , '' said the Marshals Service in a statement . `` He provided a false name three times before he said , ' I 'm Paul Clouston and I 'm tired of running , ' `` Connolly told CNN . `` We always say we go after the worst of the worst , and it does n't get much worse than this type of predator , `` Connolly added . `` We 're happy he 's off the streets . '' Connolly said a viewer tip to the TV program `` America 's Most Wanted '' led agents to the killer . Clouston murdered a police detective in Buena Park , California , in 1972 . He was convicted a year later . After serving 10 years in prison for the slaying , Clouston was released in 1982 . In 1991 , he was indicted on 17 counts of sexually abusing children in the Williamsburg , Virginia , area , according to the U.S . Marshals Service . Clouston pleaded guilty to the charges and was sent back to prison . He was paroled in 2005 but was placed on the fugitive list after he failed to register as a convicted sexual offender in Virginia . `` The capture of Paul Clouston is a testament to the effectiveness of our 15 most wanted list and the partnerships we maintain with other law enforcement agencies , '' said John F. Clark , director of the U.S . Marshals Service in a statement . `` It also speaks volumes to the value of someone doing the right thing and reporting a suspicious individual . ''
`` America 's Most Wanted '' , 10 years , taken into custody at men 's group home in Virginia . `` America 's Most Wanted '' convicted , served time for killing police detective . Clouston became fugitive when he failed to register as convicted sex offender . Viewer tip to TV 's Fugitive Paul Clouston led agents to Clouston , official says .