evidence: A Chinese fugitive successfully evaded police detection for over two decades by masquerading as a deaf and mute scavenger in the rugged terrain of Hubei Province. He sought refuge in the mountains of Anxi County, Fujian Province, where he adopted the life of a scavenger, selling scraps to survive. To avoid detection, he pretended to be deaf and mute, relying solely on smiles and gestures to communicate. [...] Earlier this month, a routine comparison of Xiao’s old photographs with those in the database revealed a startling resemblance between him and the deaf and mute man in Fujian Province. A police team was dispatched to investigate. When confronted, Xiao immediately confirmed his identity by acknowledging his origins in Xiangcheng District in Xianyang.