In a significant development, law enforcement agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals, apprehended a fugitive on Tuesday.
The individual, identified as Tuen Kit Lee, had been on the run for nearly two decades after fleeing Massachusetts during his trial for a rape case, according to authorities.
The U.S. Marshals Service, in a press release, revealed that Lee had been facing trial for the 2005 kidnapping and rape of a young woman at knifepoint in Quincy, Massachusetts. Lee was found guilty in a trial conducted in September 2007 but managed to escape before his sentencing.
The Massachusetts State Police had offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Lee's arrest. The case had gained significant media attention, with multiple appearances on the television show "America's Most Wanted" to discuss the details.
Lee earned the moniker "Bad Breath Rapist" after it was revealed that one of the key pieces of evidence linking him to the crime was his foul breath.
The U.S. Marshals Service believed that Lee had fled Massachusetts, but his exact location remained a mystery until earlier this year. Massachusetts State Police investigators managed to develop information indicating that Lee might be residing in Diablo, a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, a few miles from the East Bay suburb of Danville.
This information was relayed to the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) in northern California. The task force collaborated with the Danville Police Department to confirm that it was indeed Lee living in the area. On Tuesday, officers from the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) and the Quincy Police Department, with assistance from the USMS Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force and Danville police, successfully apprehended Lee.
Senior Inspector for U.S. Marshals Service, Chris Tamayo, commented on the unusual nature of the case, stating, "Someone who has been on the run for 17 years has probably gotten pretty comfortable. It's unique that there hasn't been additional crimes that maybe we haven't seen, especially with something as violent as it was."
Lee was taken into custody near the intersection of Hill Rd. and Diablo Rd., in close proximity to Green Valley Elementary School. The arrest was made following a motor vehicle stop conducted by Danville officers. Initially, Lee provided a false name, but upon further questioning, he confessed his true identity. His identity was subsequently confirmed through fingerprint analysis.
Tamayo further added, "We were constantly told it's a very tight, close-knit neighborhood. And if there was any kind of police presence that every neighbor would hear about it, and we didn't want to give up the thoughts it was there. This is going to probably be a big shock. Hopefully, it doesn't cause them any concerns that the fact that someone was hiding here."
Interestingly, a female companion who was with Lee at the time of his arrest was reportedly unaware of his true identity, despite having been together in California for 15 years.
The arrest brings closure to the victim and the law enforcement officers who have been tirelessly working to locate Lee for over 16 years. Acting PSWRFTF commander Chief Inspector Sean LoPiccolo emphasized, "There are violent offenders out there who believe they can commit crimes and not be held accountable for their actions. 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."
Quincy Police Department Chief Mark Kennedy expressed his gratitude to the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service for their efforts in making the arrest possible.
Following his arrest, Lee was booked by Danville police and will remain in their custody pending his extradition to Massachusetts.
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