Fugitive Arrested in Zhuhai After Living as Twin Brother

The 19-Year Fugitive Arrested in Zhuhai

A man wanted for a brutal 2002 kidnapping and robbery in China spent nearly two decades living under the identity of his dead identical twin brother before police arrested him in the city of Zhuhai in June 2026, citing the South China Morning Post.

Identity Theft Following a 2007 Traffic Fatality

The case began in Yuhuan, located in Zhejiang province, where seven men allegedly abducted a businessman and stole his money and valuables. Chinese authorities apprehended six of the suspects, but the seventh man, whose surname is Chen, vanished. For years, the search yielded nothing until 2007, when police received word that Chen had died in a traffic accident in Anhui province. His death was officially recorded in the population registry. However, investigators later discovered that the person killed in the crash was actually Chen’s identical twin brother. Chen exploited their nearly identical appearance to assume his late brother’s identity, allowing him to live freely while police believed their target was buried.

The April 2026 Tip From a Former Partner

The 19-year deception unraveled in April 2026 when police received new information raising suspicions that the fugitive was still alive. Investigators dug into the family’s history after receiving a crucial lead from the dead twin brother’s former girlfriend, which helped confirm which of the two brothers had actually died. Chen was ultimately taken into custody in Zhuhai, miles away from where the initial crime took place. The Times reported that he had successfully built a new life under his brother’s name over the course of 24 years since the original offense. Older police documents connected to the traffic accident have reportedly gone missing, leaving exact details of how the identity swap was executed still unclear.