Killing of Yanfei Bao
Killing of Yanfei Bao | |
---|---|
Location | Christchurch, New Zealand |
Date | 19 July 2023 |
Attack type | Kidnapping, homicide |
Victim | Yanfei Bao, 1979 – 2023 (aged 43–44) |
Accused | Tingjun Cao |
On 19 July 2023, Harcourts real estate agent Yanfei Bao went missing in Christchurch's Hornby suburb.[1] The New Zealand Police mounted a missing person's search in the Christchurch area.[2] More than a year later after her disappearance. On the 24th of July 2024, Tingjun Cao was charged with her kidnapping after attempting to flee to China.[3][4] On 26 July 2023, the Police launched a homicide investigation into Bao's disappearance.[5] Yanfei's remains were found in a shallow grave by police on rural farmland near Lincoln on 30 July 2024.[6]
Background
[edit]Yanfei Bao had recently joined the real estate company Harcourts as a real estate agent, having a prior background in sales.[7]
Disappearance
[edit]Real estate agent Yanfei Bao was last seen in the suburb of Hornby, Christchurch, New Zealand on the morning of 19 July 2023.[1][3] It has been reported that she was due to show a potential buyer through a property on Trevor Street.[1] Later in the morning she rang her friend Jin Tian and had a four-minute conversation with her. During the conversation, Bao asked Tian how someone she was working with could transfer NZ$600,000 from China to pay cash for a house.[8]
Search and investigation
[edit]Bao was reported missing after she failed to collect her daughter from after school care later that day.[8] Her car was found that evening in the suburb of Wigram.[9] Her cellphone was found two days after her disappearance on the Christchurch Southern Motorway, several kilometres away from where she had last been seen.[2]
52-year-old Tingjun Cao was charged of kidnapping Yanfei Bao was arrested at Christchurch Airport after booking a one-way international plane ticket to China on 22 July 2023.[10][11][8][4] On 26 July 2023 the New Zealand Police said that they had launched a homicide investigation into Bao's disappearance.[5]
On 31 July 2023, Police temporarily suspended their search due to high water levels in the Halswell River and Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora. By that time, Police had received over 200 pieces of information related to Bao's disappearance and searched three properties as part of "Operation Helo." Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves also told the public they were looking for a silver Mitsubishi sedan, and continued to ask the public for any sightings of one.[7]
On 7 August 2023, Police shifted their search to roads and farmland near Christchurch's Greenpark suburb. On 8 August, Reeves confirmed that Police had recovered more items of interest.[12]
On 6 September 2023, Police confirmed that they were searching several new areas in Christchurch and Rolleston.[13] Authorities continued to focus on the Halswell River and Greenpark area in October. Police asked for public help locating clothing related to the disappearance and a roughly 1 metre long flat-bottomed spade.[14]
On 19 January 2024, Reeves reiterated that Police were still searching for Bao. She stated that Police were interested in a silver Mitsubishi 380 with the registration DPH101 and sightings in the wider Christchurch area beyond Lake Ellesmere.[15]
On 19 July 2024, Reeves confirmed that the Police investigation into Bao's disappearance was still "very active" and that staff were in the process of finalising evidence ahead of the trial. She reaffirmed the Police's commitment to recovering Bao's remains in order to provide closure for her family. By July 2024, the police investigation team had been reduced to eight investigators. Reeves confirmed that a new investigative lead had led Police to re-establish search activity in a previously-searched area and a newly identified area. Reeves also confirmed that Police had searched Christchurch's Greenpark neighbourhood about three weeks previously but failed to find anything relevant to their investigation.[16]
On 30 July 2024, Police announced that remains believed to be that of Yanfei Bao were found at a rural property in Greenpark a Neighbourhood in Lincoln. The remains were said to be in a shallow grave just 15cm deep along the treeline at the property. Over 60 police officers were involved in the Tuesday search taking 90 minutes to locate the grave. In a statement Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said "new information that had come to light that had given us quite a specific direction for a location of we needed to be". Harcourts Gold Chief Executive Operations Manager Jason Wills extended his condolences on behalf of Harcourts.[17][18]
On 31 July 2024 a post-mortem autopsy took place and on 2 August 2024, police confirmed the remains found on the Greenpark property were that of Yanfei Bao. During the announcement Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves stated, "This news brings to a close a key aspect of our investigation and Yanfei will now be returned to her family". Police confirmed a scene examination had taken place on the involved property, the upcoming alleged murder trial Tingjun Cao is to face on 24 October 2024.[19]
Legal proceedings
[edit]On 15 August 2023, Police charged the 52 year old man accused of Bao's kidnapping with a single murder charge. Police also confirmed they were seeking information from the public about a tracksuit, top, and spade.[20] That same day, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the murder charge through his lawyer. The accused was remanded into custody until 1 September 2023.[21]
On 1 September 2023, the murder suspect was identified as Tingjun Cao. His lawyer no longer sought interim name suppression. Cao appeared before the Christchurch High Court via audio-visual link. He was remanded in custody, reappearing at the high court by audio-visual 10 November while his lawyer was granted additional time for preparation. Police custody was continued until his next court appearance in December 2023.[22]
A tentative trial date has been set for 24 October 2024.[23][16] Cao has opted for a jury trial.
On 23 August 2024, now 53 year old Tingjun Cao appeared via video link before Justice Rob Osborne at the Christchurch High Court.[24] Tingjun Cao's lawyer Joshua Macleod said in a statement, "From our perspective everything is still on track,”. The trail is expected to go ahead on 24 October 2024. [25]
Responses
[edit]By 31 July 2023, a Givealittle fundraising page was established by Bao's friend Vani Liu and by the time it had ended in August 2023, over NZ$50,000 was raised to help her immediate family, and relatives from China.[7][26]
See also
[edit]- List of kidnappings
- List of solved missing person cases
- Disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh – 1986 disappearance of woman in London
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Sherwood, Sam; Bayer, Kurt (26 July 2023). "Missing Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao: 'I do not believe she is alive,' says top cop investigating disappearance". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Person arrested for kidnapping missing real estate agent in NZ". Nine News. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original on 27 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Missing Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao: Man charged with kidnapping appears in court". Radio New Zealand. 24 July 2023. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ a b Roberts, Nadine (1 September 2023). "Man charged with Yanfei Bao's murder is recently arrived Chinese national". Stuff. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ a b Ensor, Blair (26 July 2023). "'We don't think she's alive': Police launch homicide investigation following Yanfei Bao's disappearance". Stuff. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Yanfei Bao: Police find remains in search for missing Christchurch real estate agent". The New Zealand Herald. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ a b c Hewett, William (31 July 2023). "Yanfei Bao: Police hope to resume search for missing real estate agent at Christchurch river on Wednesday". Newshub. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Ensor, Blair; Porter, Nadine (25 July 2023). "Suspect's car spotted near house Yanfei Bao was due to show buyer through, resident says". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ Ensor, Blair (27 July 2023). "Open home event held at house at centre of missing real estate agent investigation". Stuff. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
- ^ "Yanfei Bao: Police search another property over missing woman". 1 News. TVNZ. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ Sherwood, Sam; Bayer, Kurt (25 July 2023). "Man accused of kidnapping real estate agent arrested after booking one-way flight". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
- ^ Callahan, Calley (8 August 2023). "Yanfei Bao disappearance: More items of interest recovered". Newshub. Archived from the original on 11 August 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ "Yanfei Bao: Police search new areas around Christchurch". Radio New Zealand. 6 September 2023. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ Sam Sherwood (10 October 2023). "Yanfei Bao homicide inquiry: Police 'determined' to find missing woman". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "Bao: Six months on search for answers continue". Newshub. 19 January 2024. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ a b Chen, Liu (19 July 2024). "'Immense grief' – Yanfei Bao's family seeks closure on anniversary of her disappearance". RNZ. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
- ^ Sherwood, Sam (30 July 2024). "Yanfei Bao: Police obtained information that led to remains up to eight weeks ago". Stuff. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Yanfei Bao: Police find remains in search for missing Christchurch real estate agent". The New Zealand Herald. 30 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Yanfei Bao disappearance: Police confirm remains found were of Christchurch real estate agent". The New Zealand Herald. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ "Yanfei Bao: Man accused of murdering real estate agent also faces murder charge". Radio New Zealand. 15 August 2023. Archived from the original on 14 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Lever, Donna-Marie (15 August 2023). "Man accused of murdering Yanfei Bao pleads not guilty". 1 News. TVNZ. Archived from the original on 15 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- ^ Radio New Zealand (10 November 2023). "Yanfei Bao murder-accused remanded in custody after latest court appearance". rnz.co.nz. Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ Sherwood, Sam (1 September 2023). "Yanfei Bao homicide inquiry". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 2 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ Stevenson, Katie (23 August 2024). "Yanfei Bao's alleged killer appears in court". 1News. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ Kenny, Jake (23 August 2024). "Alleged killer of Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao appears in court". Stuff. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
- ^ "Help Support Yanfei Bao's Family (Givealittle)". 29 August 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.