Topline
The gruesome death and dismemberment of Hong Kong model and influencer Abby Choi, 28, earlier this month led to the arrest and criminal charges this weekend against Choi’s former in-laws, and the arrest of her ex-husband as he attempted to flee Hong Kong by high speed boat with thousands of dollars in cash and luxury watches on Saturday.
Abby Choi poses for a photo on Feb. 11, less than two weeks before her murder. (Pao Jo-yee via AP)
Key Facts
Choi was first reported missing on Feb. 22, a day after she and her former brother-in-law, Anthony Kwong, were supposed to pick up her 8-year-old daughter from school, the South China Morning Post and Vice report—but Choi never appeared.
Two days later, as police investigated her disappearance and attempted to confirm details given to them by Choi’s in-laws, police discovered a pair of female legs believed to be Choi’s stuffed in a refrigerator inside an apartment, according to the Associated Press.
The apartment had been rented by Choi’s former father-in-law, Kwong Kau, just weeks earlier, police said; they also allege the ex-husband’s family gave police misleading information about Choi’s whereabouts leading up to her disappearance.
On Feb 24., police discovered Choi’s purse, ID and credit card in the apartment, which had almost no furniture and a sail covering the walls, according to the South China Morning Post.
The apartment also contained an electric saw, a hammer, face shields, black raincoats, two different chopping blades, two pots of soup with human tissue inside, and a meat grinder, which Hong Kong police superintendent Alan Chung said in a press conference was used on human flesh, according to CBS News.
Choi’s former brother-in-law Anthony Kwong, former father-in-law Kwong Kau and former mother-in-law Jenny Li were arrested on Friday, but Choi’s ex-husband—Alex Kwong—wasn’t apprehended until Saturday, Feb. 25, when he was caught trying to board a speedboat to flee Hong Kong with roughly $64,000 (U.S.) cash and another $510,000 in luxury watches.
Anthony Kwong, Kwong Kau and Alex Kwong were charged jointly with Choi’s murder on Sunday after police discovered a skull, hair and rib-bones in one of the pots removed from the apartment on Friday.
Jenny Li was charged with perversion of justice Sunday for allegedly destroying evidence that would have implicated her in Choi’s murder—she is in custody after being denied bail Monday.
An unnamed 47-year old woman believed to be in a romantic relationship with Kwong Kau was arrested Sunday for allegedly helping him rent the apartment where human remains were found and for renting a separate apartment to hide Choi’s ex-husband from the police—she has not yet been charged.
More than 100 officials searched unsuccessfully for more human remains over the weekend in a cemetery Choi’s ex-father- and brother-in-law visited the day she went missing and in the sewage system around Kwong Kau’s apartment.
Key Background
Abby Choi, who some friends and family describe as supportive and kind, was an established fashion influencer and model. Pao Jo-yee Cheng, a friend of Choi’s who offered a $127,000 reward for Alex Kwong’s capture before his arrest, told the Associated Press Choi got along well with her in-laws and her ex-husband, with whom she shared two children. That relationship went sour earlier this month, a police investigation reportedly found, when Choi decided to sell the (U.S.) $9,000,000 property she had bought for her ex-husband to live in. Though Choi promised to house her ex-husband elsewhere, the South China Morning Post reports she faced significant backlash from her ex-father-in-law, whose name she had purchased the property under. Police believe Kwong Kau, a former police officer, orchestrated Choi’s alleged death. The investigation also found that Choi had not registered her new marriage to Chris Tam, which meant her assets would go to Kwong and his and Choi’s children upon Choi’s death.
What To Watch For
More than 100 Hong Kong police officers are scheduled to sift through Hong Kong’s North East New Territories Landfill on Tuesday, February 2, to look for evidence in Choi’s suspected murder, including her hands and torso. The South China Morning Post reports that one of the suspects is seen on video moving trash bags believed to contain evidence from the Kwong Kau’s apartment to a trash facility. Choi’s family is also scheduled to identify her possible remains on Tuesday. Acting Principal Magistrate Peony Wong scheduled the defendants’ next court date for May 8 after Senior Court Prosecutor Brian Lai Tak-ki asked for a 10-week recess for further examination of the physical evidence and an investigation of the family’s phone records.
Big Number
40,200. That’s how many Instagram followers Abby Choi has gained after her death. As of Wednesday, January 27, she has over 121,000 followers.
Surprising Fact
Choi’s ex-husband is also wanted for bail jumping in a 2015 fraud case, according to the South China Morning Post: The fraud reportedly pushed an investment scam to men on dating apps.
Further Reading
Last days of Abby Choi: timeline of Hong Kong model murder plot linked to suspected property dispute (SCMP)
Hong Kong police to search landfill on Tuesday in hunt for Abby Choi’s missing body parts’ (SCMP)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywashburn/2023/02/27/family-members-charged-in-abby-chois-death-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-models-grisly-suspected-murder/