Fugitive who abandoned NZ toddler caught in U.S.

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The father of an abandoned toddler, who is wanted in New Zealand in the killing of his wife, has been arrested in the United States, police in the U.S. state of Georgia said on Friday.

Nai Yin Xue was arrested in the town of Chamblee, Georgia, near Atlanta, after members of the local Chinese community recognized him from a picture in a Chinese newspaper and tied him up until police arrived, Chamblee Police Chief Marc Johnson said.

Xue made headlines in September after security camera footage showed him abandoning his 3-year-old daughter, Qian Xun Xue, at a railway station in Melbourne, Australia, before boarding a flight to Los Angeles.

She was dubbed "Pumpkin," after the brand of Pumpkin Patch clothing she was wearing.

The body of Xue's wife, Anan Liu, 27, was found in his car outside the couple's home in Auckland four days after Xue left.

The baby has since gone to live in China with her grandparents.

Johnson said police received a call from a man who said he recognized Xue as someone wanted for murder in New Zealand.

When officers arrived, Johnson said, five Chinese men and a Chinese woman had restrained Xue by pulling his pants down and tying them in a knot around his ankles. They also cinched his hands together with his belt, Johnson said.

"Neither the suspect nor the six people spoke English. They actually handed the officer a copy of the article (in the Chinese newspaper) and pointed to the picture and pointed to him (Xue)," Johnson said.

Xue was being held in the local jail until U.S. officials take him into custody, Johnson said.

New Zealand is expected to seek his extradition.

(Reporting by Adrian Bathgate and World Desk Washington)