A man known as the “Bad Breath Rapist” who fled in 2007 after he was convicted of rape has been arrested.
According to a U.S. Marshals press release, Tuen Kit Lee, originally from Massachusetts, was arrested in California on Tuesday after being on the run for 16 years.
“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 said.
“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.”
On February 2, 2005, Lee broke into a co-worker’s home and reportedly raped her and was quickly identified as a suspect using DNA, as well as his “bad breath.”
Lee was convicted in 2007 but had already fled the jurisdiction before his verdict was read by the jury.
Over the course of 16 years Lee has managed to avoid law enforcement, despite appearing on “America’s Most Wanted” multiple times.
Earlier this year, police learned of a home in Diablo, California, belonging to a woman who owned a flower shop and investigators were given images of a person they believed to be Lee interacting with the woman.
On May 28, authorities saw the man and woman leaving the home and shortly after local police performed a vehicle stop, and the man provided a fake name before confessing to who he was.
According to authorities, Lee is awaiting extradition back to Massachusetts..
