Authorities reported that on Tuesday, police in Northern California assisted U.S. Marshals in apprehending a fugitive who was sought in a Massachusetts rape case, nearly two decades after he fled the state during his trial.
The U.S. Marshals Service issued a press release identifying the man taken into custody as Tuen Kit Lee. Lee was previously trialed for the 2005 kidnapping and rape of a young woman at knifepoint in Quincy, Massachusetts. Lee was convicted guilty in a September 2007 trial, according to the release, but he fled before he was sentenced.
The Massachusetts State Police have extended a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to Lee’s arrest and have participated in numerous episodes of the television program “America’s Most Wanted” to address the case.
After the media discovered that Lee’s foul breath was one of the pieces of evidence that established him as the assailant, he was labeled the “Bad Breath Rapist.”
Lee is believed to have fled Massachusetts, as per the U.S. Marshals Service. Until earlier this year, Massachusetts State Police investigators were unable to determine the fugitive’s whereabouts. However, they developed information that suggested he may be residing in Diablo, a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, a few miles from the East Bay suburb of Danville.
Investigative leads were forwarded to the U.S. Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF) in northern California, which collaborated with the Danville Police Department to ascertain that Lee was residing in the region. Lee was apprehended on Tuesday by officers from the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) and the Quincy Police Department, with the support of the USMS Massachusetts Fugitive Task Force and the Danville police.
“Each closed case is distinctive.” It is probable that an individual who has been on the run for 17 years has become quite at ease. It is extraordinary that there have been no further criminal activities that we have not observed, particularly in light of the extent of the violence.
Lee was apprehended by authorities in the vicinity of the intersection of Hill Rd. and Diablo Rd., which is in close proximity to Green Valley Elementary School.
Later, the Massachusetts State Police verified that Lee was apprehended following a motor vehicle stop conducted by Danville officers. Lee initially supplied a false name, but he ultimately confessed when authorities questioned him about his true identity. The police were able to verify his identity by analyzing his biometrics.
“We were consistently informed that the community is extremely tight-knit.” And if there was any form of police presence, every neighbor would be informed, and we were unwilling to abandon the notion that it was present,” stated Chris Tamayo, senior inspector for the U.S. Marshals Service. “This is likely to be a significant surprise.” It is my sincere hope that the mere fact that an individual was concealed here does not raise any apprehensions.
Despite having been in a relationship for 15 years in California, the female companion with whom he was arrested was unaware of his true identity, according to state police.
The release stated that the apprehension provides a sense of closure to the victim and law enforcement officers who have been attempting to locate Lee for more than 16 years.
Chief Inspector Sean LoPiccolo, the acting PSWRFTF commander, stated, “There are violent offenders who assume they can commit crimes and not be held accountable for their actions.” Tuen Lee was on the run for over 16 years, and the victim and her family can only hope that the unwavering dedication of law enforcement to locate and apprehend him will provide them with a sense of relief.
“In the release, Quincy Police Department Chief Mark Kennedy expressed his profound gratitude for the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Unit and the U.S. Marshals Service personnel who contributed to the successful arrest.”
The Danville police have arrested Lee, and he will be detained by the department until he is extradited to Massachusetts, according to the authorities.
