Chinese Fugitive Poses As Dead Twin Brother For 19 Years, Ex-Girlfriend Exposes His Secret

A Chinese criminal, whose surname is Chen, evaded capture for two decades by posing as his deceased twin brother, according to the South China Morning Post. The fugitive was linked to a kidnapping and robbery incident that took place in Yuhuan, a city in China's eastern Zhejiang province, back in 2002. Although six other suspects were apprehended in the aftermath of the crime, Chen managed to slip away and remained at large.

In April 2026, police received a tip-off suggesting that a man had been living under the identity of his dead brother since 2007. An investigation was launched, focusing on Chen's family background, personal information, and official records. The brothers had nearly identical appearances, which initially raised suspicions. However, investigators could not confirm Chen's identity due to a lack of evidence from his family.

Chen's former girlfriend, identified by her surname Deng, was eventually contacted by investigators. She had been in a relationship with the elder brother and had even discussed marriage before his untimely death in a road accident in 2007. When questioned by police, Deng confirmed that her partner had indeed died in the accident, and not Chen.

Further evidence came to light when investigators reviewed the accident records. They discovered that Chen had utilized his own driving license during the registration process for the deceased individual, creating the illusion that he had passed away in the accident. Upon his arrest in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, on June 4, 2026, investigators collected biological samples and compared them with the original 2002 case. If found guilty, Chen could be sentenced to three to ten years in prison, according to Chinese law.