A Massachusetts fugitive dubbed the ‘Bad Breath Rapist’ has finally been caught at a multi-million dollar home in California – with a new girlfriend who was completely oblivious to his alleged horrific past.
Tuen Kit Lee, 55, broke into a co-worker’s home and raped her at knifepoint on February 2, 2005. He allegedly fled his trial in September 2007 before jurors returned the conviction, and he has been living a life of luxury in the Golden State ever since.
But cops snared the longtime fugitive on Tuesday after images of him surfaced on social media and detectives traced him to a lavish home in Diablo, a tiny town 20 miles east of the Bay Area.
He was spotted leaving the residence with a girlfriend who he has been living with for the last 15 years, according to Massachusetts State Police. ‘His female companion never knew who he really was,’ the department said.
Lee gained notoriety after he was identified through DNA and what Massachusetts SP called ‘his horrible breath.’
He was charged with rape and home invasion, and his case went to trial at Norfolk Superior Court. Jurors found him guilty after two days of deliberations – but by this point, Lee had already fled the state, police claim.
Despite state police and Quincy PD detectives putting ‘hundreds of hours into attempting to locate Lee’ according to officials, the case eventually went cold.
But earlier this year, cops said ‘new information broke the case wide open’ after an image of Lee surfaced on social media and detectives traced him to the Diablo home.
Detectives found out that the residence was owned by a female flower shop owner – though it’s unclear whether this was Lee’s girlfriend or their landlady.
On Tuesday, state police from Massachusetts and California combined forces to watch over the residence, and they observed ‘a male and female leave and enter a vehicle’.
Local Danville Police pulled their car aside. Lee initially gave a fake name, but under questioning by officers he confessed his true identity, which was confirmed through fingerprints.
He was transported to Danville PD for booking and will be held pending his rendition to Massachusetts.
‘There are violent offenders out there who believe they can commit crimes and not be held accountable for their actions,’ said Chief Inspector Sean LoPiccolo, acting Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force commander.
‘Tuen Lee was on the run for more than 16 years and the unwavering dedication by law enforcement to locate and arrest him hopefully brings peace of mind to the victim and her family.’