A fugitive known as the 'bad breath rapist' has been apprehended in the San Francisco Bay Area more than 16 years after he fled following his conviction for sexually assaulting a coworker in Massachusetts, authorities revealed this week.
The fugitive, Tuen Kit Lee, was found guilty in a 2007 trial of kidnapping and raping a young woman at knifepoint in her home in Quincy, south of Boston, as stated by the U.S. Marshals Service on Tuesday. Lee evaded capture by fleeing before his sentencing.
Despite his escape, officials kept the case in the public eye, with Lee's photo appearing multiple times on the television show 'America’s Most Wanted.' Following the circulation of images on social media believed to be Lee, investigators successfully traced him to Contra Costa County in California.
Lee was arrested by U.S. Marshals and police officers after he and a woman were seen leaving a high-value residence near Danville, just east of Oakland. Upon being pulled over, Lee initially provided a false name but later confessed to his true identity when questioned, leading to his identification through fingerprints.
Remarkably, Lee's female companion, who had been with him in California for 15 years, was unaware of his true identity, according to a statement from the Massachusetts State Police.
The incident in question occurred on February 2, 2005, when Lee broke into the victim's home in Massachusetts and committed the heinous act of rape. He was ultimately identified through DNA evidence and his distinctive bad breath, earning him the moniker 'The Bad Breath Rapist.'
Lee is currently in custody in California pending his anticipated transfer to Massachusetts. As of Wednesday, it remains unclear whether he has legal representation to provide comment on his case.
