Kidnapping of Yanfei Bao
LocationChristchurch, New Zealand
Date19 July 2023 (2023-07-19)
Attack type
Kidnapping, possible homicide
VictimYanfei Bao, 1979 - 2023 (aged 43–44)

On 19 July 2023, 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] On 24 July, a man was charged with her kidnapping after attempting to flee to China.[3] On 26 July 2023, the Police launched a homicide investigation into Bao's disappearance.[4]

Background

Yanfei Bao had recently joined the real estate company Harcourts as a real estate agent, having a prior background in sales. Bao had a partner named Paul and a daughter named Momo.[5]

Disappearance

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.[6]

Search and investigation

Bao was reported missing after she failed to collect her daughter from after school care later that day.[6] Her car was found that evening in the suburb of Wigram.[7] 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]

A 52-year-old man charged of kidnapping Yanfei Bao was arrested at Christchurch Airport after booking a one-way international plane ticket to China on 22 July.[8][9][6] On 26 July 2023 the New Zealand Police said that they had launched a homicide investigation into Bao's disappearance.[4]

On 31 July, the 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.[5]

On 7 August, 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.[10]

On 6 September, the Police confirmed that they were searching several new areas in Christchurch and Rolleston including Waterholes and Robinsons roads in Rolleston, Spalling Road and Te Kuru Wetland in Halswell, and Haul Road at McLeans Island.[11] Authorities continued to focus on the Halswell River and Greenpark area in October. Police stated “There’s brilliant information from the public” and asked for help locating clothing related to the disappearance, and a roughly 1 metre long flat-bottomed shovel.[12]

On 15 August, 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.[13] 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.[14]

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 preperation. Police custody was continued until his next court appearance in December 2023.[15] A tentative trial date was set for 24 October 2024.[16]

Responses

By 31 July 2023, a Givealittle fundraising page established by Bao's friend Vani Liu had raised over NZ$38,000 to help her relatives travel from China.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 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.
  2. 1 2 "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.
  3. 1 2 "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.
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. 1 2 3 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.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ "Yanfei Bao: Police search another property over missing woman". 1 News. TVNZ. Archived from the original on 25 July 2023. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "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.
  12. ↑ Sam Sherwood (10 October 2023). "Yanfei Bao homicide inquiry: Police 'determined' to find missing woman". Yanfei Bao homicide inquiry: Police ‘determined’ to find missing woman. NZ Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  13. ↑ "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.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. ↑ 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.
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