The Horrific Murder Of Model Abby Choi
Abby Choi's final Instagram post, dated February 15, featured the Hong Kong-based model and influencer on the cover of L'Officiel Monaco, a luxury and lifestyle magazine. Before going missing not even a week later on February 21, the 28-year-old had garnered over 100,000 followers on Instagram along a career path that clad her in Dior, Chanel, Gucci, and more and took her to Paris Fashion Week besides. And now, that final Instagram post stands as the last message Choi will give anyone, ever.
As CNN says, Hong Kong police went searching for Choi on Wednesday, the day after she went missing. By Friday, they'd found the evidence they needed in a house in Lung Mei Tsuen, a residential area of Hong Kong south of mainland China, per USA Today. There in the refrigerator police found Choi dismembered. There was a hole in the right rear portion of her skull from what police believe to be the strike that killed her. Furthermore, a skull believed to be Choi's wasn't in the fridge but in a cooking pot, per CBS News. It and another pot were filled with human tissue. Police superintendent Alan Chung said that police found an electric saw and meat grinder on the property, both of which had been used.
Choi's friend and fellow model Moka Fang said (per Asia One), "I am extremely devastated and still cannot accept that this is reality. My heart is in such pain I have no words, only a thousand 'whys.'"
Suspects and a financial dispute
As CNN says, Hong Kong police have arrested five people in connection with Abby Choi's murder: her ex-husband Alex Kwong, his brother Anthony, their father Kwong Kau, mother Jenny Li, and an unnamed woman. USA Today says that the house containing Choi's remains, the refrigerator, the electric saw, and so forth was rented by Kwong Kau. Per CNN, Alex, Anthony, and Kwong Kau have been charged with the murder itself, and Jenny Li with "perverting the course of justice." The final and fifth suspect's connection to the case remains unknown. The four main suspects have been denied bail and as of the time of this writing have not yet entered a plea.
USA Today speculates on the question asked by Choi's friend Moka Fang: "Why?" By all accounts, Alex Kwong, Choi's ex-husband, had been embroiled in a disagreement with her regarding her finances. GHBase puts the dispute at HK $12 million and Choi's net worth at about HK $100 million. Hong Kong police, as USA Today states, said vaguely that "some people" didn't like Choi's management of her money.
CNN says that certain parts of Choi's body have yet to be recovered, including her hands and torso. Besides Choi's skull and soft tissue, the aforementioned pots also contained ribs and hair, which could aid police further in their search for justice.
The quest for justice
Even just a cursory overview of Abby Choi's Instagram account, particularly her final post, depicts an outpouring of sympathy from the general public regarding her death. "What happened is so unfair and so unnecessary," one user writes. Another reads, "Life is fragile ... this sudden killing is cruel." Others write, "Rest in Peace my beautiful angel Abby," "May you get the justice you deserve," "This is devastating," and "Nobody deserves to die like this."
As USA Today says, Choi was also married and a mother of four. She had two children with her ex-husband and accused murderer, Alex Kwong: a 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter. She had another two children with her current husband, Chris Tam: a 6-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son. In a Facebook post by friend Pao Jo-yee, Tam was quoted as saying (per USA Today), "When Abby was alive, she was a very kind person and always wanted to help people. I feel anyone who had a chance to be her family or her friend are blessed." By all accounts, Choi was a generous, well-liked person. Her, her family, her husband's family, and her ex-husband's family (the ones accused of aiding in her murder) reportedly all knew each other and spent time together regularly.
CNN says that Choi's alleged murderers are set to appear in court on May 8. Police have until then to investigate and gather evidence.