A mother has been accused of killing her 12-year-old daughter before dismembering her remains at their flat in Hong Kong.
The 37-year-old mother, said to be surnamed Cao, was arrested today after police forced their way into her flat in the city’s Mong Kok area.
Police found a human head and other organs in a bathtub, and left the scene with 12 bags of human remains, according Superintendent Chung Chi-ming, the Assistant District Commander of Mongkok District.
Police found the suspect after breaking into her flat on Canton Road, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Police left the scene with 12 bags of human remains, said Superintendent Chung Chi-ming (pictured), the Assistant District Commander of Mongkok District, to local media
The case was uncovered by the police by accident after one of Ms Cao’s neighbour called them claiming Ms Cao had failed to return his phone to him.
Mr Chung told local media that officers arrived at the address at 9pm to find the suspect outside the flat in Man Fok Building on Canton Road.
But they had to break in because she refused to unlock the door.
Once inside, officers found human organs clogging the bath plughole. The bath had apparently overflowed and flooded the flat and a stairway below it.
Mr Chung said Ms Cao was not in a condition to be questioned at the current time.
Police believed she had used a meat cleaver to chop her daughter into pieces, reported South China Morning Post.
He said: ‘We have to wait for her condition to get better before the investigation.’
He added that police were still trying to determine a motive and also looking for the girl’s dad.
Ms Cao was arrested today but was not in a condition to be questioned, according to police
The shocking case was uncovered by police in a residential flat inside Man Fok Building
One female neighbour of Ms Cao, surnamed Tsui, told local media she had heard a chopping sound that went on for half an hour.
Ms Tsui added: ‘I thought the sound was children playing with toys.’
The police were informed by another of Ms Cao’s neighbour, Mr Lam.
Mr Lam told local media Apple Daily that Ms Cao had asked to borrow his phone when the two met in the corridor. Mr Lam said Ms Cao said she had to make a call to her husband, but she did not return to his phone. As a result, Mr Lam called the police.
Apparently, the police went to find Ms Cao in hope of recovering Mr Lam’s phone, and discovered the shocking case by accident.
Mr Lam said Ms Cao had been living in the address for two years. The suspect is said to be from Mainland China and a temporary resident in Hong Kong. Her daughter was not born in Hong Kong.
Police from the Crime Investigation Department of Mongkok is treating the case as murder.