Very broadly speaking if you're hiding and law enforcement is actively looking for you the statute of limitations pauses, because the delay is morally your fault. (And actively looking has a generous definition) That could be what happened here.
but it not clear, see this thread https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35548508
that's where case law comes in, probably there's some test for it made up by a few judges (like was there an active warrant, or named as person of interest in an active case, etc..)