The new tenants at a home police suspect may have been the scene of a double homicide have broken their silence as the probe in the former occupants’ deaths continues.
The remains of Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li were discovered by a jogger wrapped in plastic in bushland along Foreshore Rd at Botany in Sydney, by a jogger on December 9.
Police held grave fears for her husband, Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen for nine days until a body was found submerged in a creek and covered in reeds on Tuesday.
While the remains have not been officially identified, police believe they belong to Mr Chen.
A new family have since moved into the couple’ former rental property in Greenacre in Sydney’s south-west, just days after Ms Li’s mother cleared out their possessions last weekend.
It’s understood the four-bedroom house was sold in October, a month before the suspected murders.
A woman living in the home, who wished to stay anonymous, admitted that the family’s move had been a nightmare due to the ongoing investigation into deaths of Ms Li and her husband.
She told NCA NewsWire her new home was being treated like a crime scene by media, despite being given the all clear by police to move in.
The new tenants of the home (pictured) where Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li and her husband Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen lived before their suspected murders have pleaded for privacy
The remains of Ms Li (pictured) were discovered by a jogger on December 9, prompting fears for her husband
Mr Chen’s (pictured) body was found near the location of Ms Li’s on December 17 with police investigating whether the couple were killed by loan sharks
The mental health of her entire family had been impacted by the ongoing reminders of the property’s grisly past.
The woman said she felt for Ms Li, her husband and their loved ones but asked she and her family be given privacy in their new home.
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty on Tuesday aired police’s theory Ms Li and Mr Chen were killed inside the Greenacre property before their bodies were dumped in Botany.
‘I don’t want to jump the gun if this is Rex, but the location of the where the murder would have happened would have been in the Greenacre address, that’s a strong theory that we have,’ he told a press conference.
‘The bodies then driven to Foreshore Drive and placed where they are now. They were there for some time.
‘That’s the likelihood, and that’s where the investigation is running, that Greenacre was the actual location.’
Police are investigating two suspects who fled overseas following the couple’s grisly deaths. Pictured is the crime scene on Tuesday after Mr Chen’s body was found
The home was forensically examined by police last week before Mr Li’s mother was given the green light to clear out the couple possessions last weekend.
Detectives haven’t yet ruled out whether a crime occurred there.
‘The scene has been processed, it’s not a current active crime scene,’ a NSW State Crime Command spokesperson told NCA Newswire.
Superintendent Doherty has also shared insight into police’s manhunt for those responsible for the couple’s death.
It’s understood Mr Chen had racked up a significant gambling debt, fuelling theories he and his wife were targeted by loan sharks.
‘They owed money,’ Superintendent Doherty said.
‘There was no other criminality that we were aware of, and certainly Sally has unfortunately become a victim because of that.’
It’s believed Ms Li was unaware of her husband’s financial woes.
A car, believed to have transported their bodies, has been seized and will undergo forensic examination.
Detectives are working with Taiwanese and Chinese authorities to locate the two suspects
A car (pictured), believed to have transported their bodies, has been seized and will undergo forensic examination
Police are honing in on two suspects who have allegedly fled overseas since the murders.
It’s understood police believe they travelled to Queensland, where Mr Chen’s phone was recovered, before heading offshore.
‘We are liaising with Taiwan and Chinese authorities … possibility two people involved are both offshore,’ Superintendent Doherty said.
‘At least two people involved and have travelled overseas. Post the bodies being dumped.’
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