UFC Legend B.J. Penn Arrested for Third Time Over Impostor Claims Against Family

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ICARO Media Group
Politics
31/05/2025 22h25

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In a troubling turn of events, UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn has been arrested for the third time in six days in his home state of Hawaii, reportedly due to his continuing claims that his family has been murdered and replaced by impostors. This disturbing situation has brought the former two-division champion into controversy, culminating in multiple run-ins with law enforcement.

Penn's latest arrest occurred last Friday after he failed to appear in court, thereby breaching his bail conditions, according to MMA Fighting. Prior to this, he was arrested on both Sunday and Monday on allegations of abusing a family or household member. Penn, who is 46 years old, was once again released on bail following his most recent arrest.

Reports from KHON2 indicate that Penn unsuccessfully argued to the court that he missed the hearing due to illness from COVID-19. His request to have his warrants recalled was subsequently denied. Compounding his legal troubles, Penn's 79-year-old mother, Lorraine Shin, sought and was granted a temporary restraining order against him, which Judge Jeffrey Ng approved on Tuesday. The order mandates that Penn remain at least 100 feet away from his mother for the next 180 days, and any violation could lead to a misdemeanor charge and potential jail time.

Court documents reveal a harrowing narrative from Shin, who accuses her son of "extreme psychological abuse." She claims Penn believes she has been replaced by an impostor who killed his real family to seize control of their assets. Shin has suggested that her son may be suffering from Capgras syndrome, a rare psychological disorder where individuals mistakenly believe their loved ones have been replaced by impostors. Several factors, such as brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases, are thought to contribute to this condition.

Shin described a troubling series of events in her request for a restraining order, beginning with her return from a trip earlier this month to find many of her personal belongings missing. After installing security measures, including cameras and a deadbolt lock, she alleges Penn tampered with or removed them. She detailed an incident on May 25 where Penn allegedly assaulted her in an attempt to prevent her from contacting the police, resulting in his initial arrest. Despite a 48-hour stay-away order, Shin claimed that Penn broke into her home again the following day, leading to another arrest.

Penn has also taken to social media to post videos and messages accusing his family of being impostors, further illustrating the depth of his delusional beliefs. A video from May 17 shows Penn confronting a woman, believed to be Shin, and accusing her of identity theft.

Penn’s turbulent history extends into his professional career as well. He last competed in May 2019, suffering a record seventh consecutive loss before being released by the UFC. UFC CEO Dana White subsequently advised Penn to focus on his personal issues rather than pursuing further fighting opportunities.

As Penn is expected back in court on June 10 for a hearing, the situation remains tense and highlights the severe ramifications of untreated mental health disorders.

The views expressed in this article do not reflect the opinion of ICARO, or any of its affiliates.

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