Authorities this week announced the arrest of a fugitive known as the “bad breath rapist” in Danville, California. The fugitive had been on the run for over 16 years since his conviction for sexually assaulting a coworker in Massachusetts.
Tuen Kit Lee, according to a statement released by the U.S. Marshals Service on Tuesday, was convicted in 2007 for the abduction and sexual assault of a young woman at her residence in Quincy, located south of Boston. Prior to his scheduled sentencing, Lee managed to escape and has been on the run ever since.
Officials actively maintained media attention on the case, ensuring that Lee’s photo was prominently featured multiple times on the popular TV show “America’s Most Wanted.” Thanks to the power of social media, investigators were able to uncover images of a man who was believed to be Lee. Utilizing this information, they successfully traced his whereabouts to Contra Costa County in California.
Lee was apprehended by U.S. Marshals and police officers on Tuesday. They observed him and a woman exiting a luxurious residence near Danville, located east of Oakland. Upon stopping his vehicle, Lee initially provided a fake name but eventually admitted his real identity when questioned further. Authorities were able to confirm his identity through fingerprints.
According to a statement from the Massachusetts State Police, the female companion of the individual had been with him for 15 years in California, but she was completely unaware of his true identity.
The state police statement revealed that the identification of the perpetrator was made possible through DNA analysis and a distinctive characteristic – his foul breath, which earned him the moniker “The Bad Breath Rapist.”
Lee is currently being held by the police in California, as they await his transfer to Massachusetts.
It is unclear at this time if he has legal representation available to provide a comment on his case.
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