Massachusetts fugitive known as ‘Bad Breath Rapist’ finally caught after 17 YEARS of living life of luxury in ‘multi-million dollar’ California home with oblivious girlfriend
- Tuen Kit Lee, 55, allegedly broke into a colleague’s home and raped her
- He has been living a luxurious life with an unconscious girlfriend for fifteen years
- Police traced the couple to a home in Diablo, California on May 28, 2024
A Massachusetts fugitive dubbed the “Bad Breath Rapist” has finally been captured in a multi-million dollar home in California – with a new girlfriend who was completely unaware of his horrific past.
Tuen Kit Lee, 55, broke into a colleague’s home on February 2, 2005 and raped her at knifepoint. He fled trial in September 2007 before jurors overturned the conviction, and he lives a life of luxury in the Golden State. since.
But police arrested the longtime fugitive Tuesday after images of him emerged on social media and detectives traced him to an opulent home in Diablo, a small town 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the Bay Area.
According to Massachusetts State Police, he was seen leaving the home with a girlfriend he had lived with for the past 15 years. “His female companion never knew who he really was,” the department said.
Tuen Kit Lee (pictured in his 2005 mugshot) broke into a coworker’s home and raped her on February 2, 2005. He fled trial before jurors overturned the conviction, and he lives a life of luxury in the Golden State. since
Lee rose to prominence 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 in Norfolk Superior Court. Jurors found him guilty after two days of deliberation, but by that point Lee had already fled the state.
Despite state police and Quincy PD detectives spending “hundreds of hours trying to locate Lee,” the case ultimately came to nothing.
But earlier this year, police said “new information opened the case wide open” after an image of Lee surfaced on social media and detectives traced him to the Diablo home.
Detectives learned that the home was owned by a female flower shop owner, although it is unclear whether this was Lee’s girlfriend or their landlady.
A Massachusetts fugitive dubbed the ‘Bad Breath Rapist’ has finally been captured in a multi-million dollar home in California – with a new girlfriend who was completely unaware of his horrific past
Lee rose to prominence after he was identified through DNA and what Massachusetts SP called “his horrible breath.”
Pictured: Lee in court prior to his February 2005 rape conviction
On Tuesday, state police from Massachusetts and California joined forces to monitor the home and observed “a man and a woman exiting and entering a vehicle.”
Local Danville police pulled over their car. Lee initially gave a false name, but under questioning by officers he confessed his true identity, which was confirmed through fingerprints.
He was transported to the Danville Police Department for booking and will be held pending extradition to Massachusetts.
“There are violent offenders who believe they can commit crimes and not be held accountable for their actions,” said Superintendent Sean LoPiccolo, acting commander of the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force.
“Tuen Lee was on the run for over 16 years and the continued dedication of police to locate and arrest him will hopefully bring peace of mind to the victim and her family.”