Sydney, Australia — In a chilling case that has captured national attention, the deaths of Zhuojun “Sally” Li and her husband Jai-Bao “Rex” Chen are being investigated by authorities as a deliberate double homicide following the discovery of two bodies in Botany. The recent finding in the parklands has steered detectives towards the theory of a targeted attack, possibly stemming from unresolved debts.
Li, aged 33, was tragically found deceased on December 9, her body concealed in plastic and hidden in the underbrush of Sir Joseph Banks Park, a month after her disappearance was reported by her distraught mother. The couple, who lived in Greenacre, vanished under mysterious circumstances, leading the police to fear for Chen’s safety.
Compounding the grim sequence of events, a man’s body, presumed to be that of 33-year-old Chen according to Homicide Squad leader Danny Doherty, was retrieved at approximately 2 pm submerged in a creek within close proximity—merely 10 meters—from where his wife was discovered. Although formal identification has been delayed by the advanced state of decomposition, the authorities are fairly certain of the body’s identity.
Doherty expressed a strong belief that the main target of the attack was Chen himself. “Both Sally and, more likely, Rex were specifically targeted, murdered, and their bodies disposed of on Foreshore Drive at Botany, indicating the involvement of multiple perpetrators,” Doherty explained.
Doherty reiterated the unsettling details that they think the couple was slain at their apartment before their bodies were later relocated to Botany. The investigation has led to the recovery of Chen’s cellphone in Queensland, a worrying indication that a third party was using the device, likely linked to the perpetrators.
Adding to the complexity of the case, authorities are now in pursuit of at least two suspects believed to have fled abroad. “Following the retrieval of Chen’s phone, we made further inquiries and discovered that two individuals travelled to Queensland and then overseas,” Doherty disclosed, noting collaboration with law enforcement in Taiwan and China to trace the suspects.
The sequence of events leading to the murders, as hypothesized by the authorities, involves financial disputes. Police emphasize that this angle remains a strong motive behind the killings, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into all possible leads.
An additional clue in the ongoing investigation emerged with the seizure of a silver Toyota Avensis in Sydney, not registered to either Li or Chen, believed to be used in the transport and disposal of the bodies. Surveillance captured the vehicle on Foreshore Road during the early hours of November 30, hinting at the preparation and execution of the crime.
Doherty affirmed the importance of keeping an open perspective, emphasizing that while a third party’s involvement is suspected in Sally’s murder, it possibly extends to the circumstances surrounding Rex’s disappearance as well.
The link between the car, suspects, and the deaths of Li and Chen paint a grim picture of premeditation and malice, prompting authorities to urge anyone with information about the vehicle or other relevant details to come forward and assist with the inquiry. As the community reels from the shock of such a calculated crime, the police are steadfast in their commitment to uncovering the truth and ensuring justice for Sally and Rex.