A decomposed body buried in a rooftop flower bed inside a shopping mall in Sichuan, China, has been identified as a woman who went missing nearly three decades ago, in a case that has shocked the public.
The remains were discovered in September 2025 during renovation works at the mall. According to reports, the flower bed had been left untouched for almost 30 years. Authorities later confirmed the identity of the deceased as Wu Yan Ping, a clothing shop owner who disappeared in February 1997.
Wu was last seen leaving her shop after a meal, telling her family she would return shortly. However, she never came back, and her disappearance remained unsolved for 28 years despite early police investigations.
Following the discovery, police reopened the cold case and conducted fresh interviews with former tenants and witnesses linked to the building. Investigators eventually uncovered new leads pointing to two suspects, both connected to Wu through past business dealings.
One of the suspects, identified as Chen Yi Fen, had reportedly left the city shortly after Wu disappeared, later changing her identity and undergoing cosmetic surgery. Authorities eventually tracked her down in Shanghai after cross-checking old records and immigration data.
Investigations revealed that Wu had been owed around RMB 40,000 (approximately RM26,000) at the time, equivalent to about RM26,000, which allegedly became a motive in the case.
Police said Chen and her former husband, Yang Fu Gen, lured Wu to a storage area within the mall before killing her. The pair allegedly strangled her and then buried her body in the rooftop flower bed, also taking valuables including gold items.
Yang later confessed to the crime, while Chen initially denied involvement before also admitting her role. Both suspects have been arrested and are expected to face trial.
Wu’s remains have since been returned to her family for burial. Her son, who spent nearly three decades searching for answers, said he hopes the court will deliver justice for his mother after 28 years of uncertainty.
