Who Killed Cecilia Zhang?

Jan Wong has some enlightening tidbits on the Cecilia Zhang case. Taken from her family’s bedroom 5 months ago, the case was suspected to have been an abduction for profit. The 9 year old’s body was discovered this week in a wooded area in MIssissauga.
The family had rented out rooms to 20 students in the 5 years they’ve lived there. (On a not totally unrelated topic, just how does someone get away with turning a single family dwelling into an quasi apartment complex for Chinese students?) For reasons unknown, the Toronto police didn’t even bother looking for them all and are noncommital about reinterviewing those they have. They also ignored offers of assistance.

Asked specifically if Toronto police had received help in Toronto from mainland Chinese criminal investigators, Mr. Perry referred further questions to his successor. Mr. Cashman didn’t return a call seeking comment or a message left with the Toronto police communications department. Mr. Pugash said that while mainland Chinese police gave their ”co-operation” in locating people, they had not come to Toronto to assist police here.
After Mr. Perry’s retirement, Mr. Hart said he left e-mail and phone messages for Mr. Cashman. To make sure he had received the messages, Mr. Hart enlisted the help of an American friend with connections to the RCMP. He says Mr. Cashman finally called him back about five weeks ago.
”I was very unhappy with the ‘thanks, but no thanks’ call. They said, ‘We’re making great progress, and we have offers from all over the world,’ “‘ said Mr. Hart, who had offered to pay the costs of Mr. Duan’s air fare and hotel.
Experts in Chinese culture and history have said that Toronto police — and Cecilia’s parents — may have inadvertently violated a well- choreographed tradition: pay off the ransom quietly without ever alerting law enforcement. Instead, Cecilia’s mother, Sherry Xu, ran to school and then, at the principal’s suggestion, called the police.
Despite the apparent lack of progress, Mr. Cashman gave this warning to Cecilia’s killers. “As always, turn yourself in,” he said. ”We are coming. We are looking. We are going to find you. There are no stops. There is nothing we aren’t going to do to locate the individual responsible. My best advice is get a lawyer and call us.”

Another effective crime investigation tactic, I’m sure.
hat tip – Who Killed Theresa