Sixteen years ago, a horrifying child abuse case unfolded in Luzhou, New Taipei City. A young mother from Tainan, Li (alias), fled north with her daughter to escape her abusive ex-partner, seeking shelter with two cousins surnamed Zhou. Tragically, while Li avoided her husband’s violence, her daughter became the target of relentless abuse by the two women. Within just two months, the child lost her life.
Because Li was staying under someone else’s roof, she not only failed to report the abuse but, after her daughter’s death, attempted to slow the decomposition by surrounding the body with large amounts of ice and using fans to reduce the smell. She kept the body for four days before posting online for help, which caught the attention of a funeral director, ultimately exposing the crime.
On the night of November 15, 2009, a peculiar post appeared on Yahoo Knowledge+, a popular Q&A platform at the time. The account asked: “If a 4-year-old child dies, what should be done? The child suddenly died at home… what happens if it’s been four days? My friend is very worried and doesn’t know what to do!” This post revealed the crime to the public.
Funeral director Ah Wei responded immediately: “You must report this to the police and have the coroner examine the body.” He left his contact information, offering assistance from his experience handling similar cases. Around 5 a.m., a woman called him, trembling, claiming to be the child’s aunt.
On the morning of November 16, Ah Wei met local police in Luzhou. Using the phone information provided, he went to the apartment. Three women answered the door, appearing nervous, and a strong odor of decomposition hit him immediately. Ah Wei blocked the door to allow police to enter safely and conduct a search.
According to autopsy results and police reconstruction, on November 12, the child had been beaten by the Zhou cousins over minor issues. Later that day, she fell asleep in the kitchen, and Li brought her to her bedroom. When Li attempted to bathe her at 8 p.m., she discovered the child was unresponsive, with purple lips and no heartbeat. Despite their panic, none of the three women called for help or sought medical attention. Instead, they wrapped the body in blankets and towels, surrounded it with ice, and used fans to mask the odor for four days.
Faced with the autopsy evidence, all three women admitted their involvement. Zhou Fengzhen confessed to physically assaulting the child that day, while Zhou Jingyi admitted to regularly disciplining the child with corporal punishment. Li, the mother, was aware of the abuse but did nothing to stop it and failed to seek medical help after her daughter lost consciousness.
Police investigation revealed that Li, then 21, had her daughter at age 18 with a boyfriend who was only 15. Unable to care for the child independently, she initially lived with her boyfriend’s family, who helped raise the child. However, after enduring long-term domestic violence, Li fled north in September 2009 with her daughter, seeking refuge with her cousins in Luzhou. Tragically, the apartment that was meant to be a safe haven became the site of the young girl’s death.
