Killing Of Ashley Zhao
Child Homicide Case
CLASSIFICATION: Murder
LOCATION
Jackson Township, Ohio
TIME PERIOD
January 9-10, 2017
VICTIMS
1 confirmed
On January 9, 2017, Ashley Zhao, a five-year-old girl, was reported missing from her family's restaurant, Ang's Asian Cuisine, in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio. The following day, her body was discovered concealed in the kitchen near the freezer, leading to the arrest of her parents, Ming Ming Chen and Liang Zhao, on January 11. Chen was charged with involuntary manslaughter after confessing to beating Ashley to death out of frustration, while Zhao was convicted of obstructing justice and abuse of a corpse for assisting in hiding the body. Chen received a 22-year prison sentence, with deportation upon release, and Zhao was sentenced to 12 years; both were found guilty of multiple charges related to the incident. The case remains a significant example of child homicide and parental accountability in Ohio.
Investigators and the public believe that Ashley Zhao's death was the result of extreme rage and resentment from her mother, Ming Ming Chen, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter. There is speculation that the parents attempted to cover up the crime, as her father, Liang Zhao, was convicted of obstructing justice and aiding in hiding the body. Some community members express disbelief that a parent could commit such an act, leading to theories about underlying issues within the family.
The Tragic Case of Ashley Zhao: A Family's Dark Secret
A Child's Silent End
On a bleak winter day, January 9, 2017, the quietude of Jackson Township in Stark County, Ohio, was shattered by the disappearance of a little girl named Ashley Zhao. Just five years old, Ashley vanished from her family's restaurant, Ang's Asian Cuisine, under mysterious circumstances. The day closed with her parents reporting her missing, claiming she may have innocently wandered out of a back door. But the chilling reality was far more sinister.
The Grim Discovery
As the clock ticked into the early hours of January 10, authorities launched a desperate search for Ashley, issuing a Statewide Endangered Child Alert. Their efforts led them back to the restaurant, where a horrifying discovery awaited. Ashley's lifeless body was found concealed in the kitchen near the freezer, a tragic testament to a dark betrayal within her own family.
The Investigation Begins
The investigation swiftly zeroed in on Ashley's parents, Ming Ming Chen and Liang Zhao. By January 11, both were arrested, with their bonds set at an imposing $5 million each, reflecting the judge's fear of their potential flight risk. As the layers of this tragic tale unraveled, a disturbing picture emerged.
Ming Ming Chen: A Mother's Confession
Ming Ming Chen, born in 1987/1988, stood at the center of this heartbreaking case. Charged with murder and felonious assault, Chen confessed in a taped police video to beating her daughter to death. She spoke of exhaustion from her work at the restaurant and frustration with Ashley's disobedience, revealing a moment of rage that ended in fatal violence.
Chen's confession continued with a chilling narrative: after realizing Ashley was dead, she instructed her husband, Liang Zhao, to hide the body. Despite initially pleading not guilty by reason of insanity during an October 12, 2017 hearing, Chen later changed her plea. On December 29, 2017, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, receiving a 22-year prison sentence. Her illegal immigration status meant deportation to China loomed after her release.
Liang Zhao: A Father's Complicity
Liang Zhao, a U.S. citizen, struck a plea deal, agreeing to testify against Chen in exchange for a reduced 12-year sentence. He recounted the harrowing scene upon discovering Ashley: the child lay lifeless with head injuries, "green fluid" oozing from her mouth. Despite his attempts at CPR, Ashley's life had already slipped away. Zhao's subsequent actions—assisting in hiding her body—sealed his fate.
On September 11, 2017, Zhao pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangerment, along with charges of corpse abuse, obstruction of justice, and evidence tampering. His sentencing on January 10, 2018, marked the somber anniversary of Ashley's tragic discovery.
Legal Proceedings and Sentences
Initially charged with murder, both parents saw these charges reduced through plea negotiations. Chen's plea resulted in a 22-year sentence, while Zhao's cooperation earned him 12 years behind bars. These outcomes underscored the judicial system's attempt to balance justice with the complexities of familial betrayal.
Closing Notes
The tragic killing of Ashley Zhao stands as a poignant reminder of the darkness that can lurk within seemingly ordinary lives. Her short life and untimely death exposed the fragile boundaries of trust and the devastating consequences of unchecked rage and resentment. As the legal proceedings concluded, the community of Jackson Township was left to grapple with the loss of an innocent child and the haunting reality of her final days.
Sources
- Missing 5-year-old found dead inside restaurant
- Lawyer: Chinese mom's confession should be kept out of trial
- Ming Ming Chen sentenced to 22 years for death of 5-year-old daughter in Stark County
- Dad who hid daughter's dead body in restaurant sentenced
- Parents charged after dead girl found "concealed" in family's restaurant
- Missing Ohio Girl Found Dead in Chinese Restaurant; Parents Charged
- Statewide endangered child alert issued for missing Ohio girl
- Missing Ohio girl's body found in family's restaurant; parents charged in her beating death
- Police allege mother struck girl found dead, "concealed" in family restaurant
- Missing girl found dead in restaurant, parents charged
- Mum confesses to killing daughter
- Video: Mother Calmly Confesses to Killing Her Daughter, 5
- 'I Just Killed Her and She Died': Ohio Mother's Chilling Confession to 5-Year-Old Daughter's Murder
- Mom enters insanity plea in slaying of girl found hidden in family restaurant
- Ohio Mom Pleads Not Guilty by Insanity in Daughter's Death
- Woman gets 22 years in Ohio prison for killing daughter
- Dad Pleads Guilty to Hiding Daughter's Body in Restaurant
- Mom beats kid, leaves her to die in family's Chinese restaurant
- Man admits to hiding 5-year-old daughter's body in family restaurant after his wife allegedly beat child to death
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Ashley Zhao Reported Missing
Ashley Zhao disappears from her family's restaurant, prompting a missing persons report.
Body Discovered
Authorities find Ashley's body concealed in the restaurant kitchen during a search.
Parents Arrested
Ming Ming Chen and Liang Zhao are arrested and charged in connection with Ashley's death.
Insanity Plea Entered
Ming Ming Chen pleads not guilty to murder by reason of insanity during a court hearing.
Chen Sentenced
Ming Ming Chen pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter and is sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Zhao Pleads Guilty
Liang Zhao pleads guilty to charges including child endangerment and is sentenced to 12 years.
Zhao Sentenced
Liang Zhao is officially sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in Ashley's death.
On January 9, 2017, Ashley Zhao, a five-year-old girl, was reported missing from her family's restaurant, Ang's Asian Cuisine, in Jackson Township, Stark County, Ohio. The following day, her body was discovered concealed in the kitchen near the freezer, leading to the arrest of her parents, Ming Ming Chen and Liang Zhao, on January 11. Chen was charged with involuntary manslaughter after confessing to beating Ashley to death out of frustration, while Zhao was convicted of obstructing justice and abuse of a corpse for assisting in hiding the body. Chen received a 22-year prison sentence, with deportation upon release, and Zhao was sentenced to 12 years; both were found guilty of multiple charges related to the incident. The case remains a significant example of child homicide and parental accountability in Ohio.
Investigators and the public believe that Ashley Zhao's death was the result of extreme rage and resentment from her mother, Ming Ming Chen, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter. There is speculation that the parents attempted to cover up the crime, as her father, Liang Zhao, was convicted of obstructing justice and aiding in hiding the body. Some community members express disbelief that a parent could commit such an act, leading to theories about underlying issues within the family.
The Tragic Case of Ashley Zhao: A Family's Dark Secret
A Child's Silent End
On a bleak winter day, January 9, 2017, the quietude of Jackson Township in Stark County, Ohio, was shattered by the disappearance of a little girl named Ashley Zhao. Just five years old, Ashley vanished from her family's restaurant, Ang's Asian Cuisine, under mysterious circumstances. The day closed with her parents reporting her missing, claiming she may have innocently wandered out of a back door. But the chilling reality was far more sinister.
The Grim Discovery
As the clock ticked into the early hours of January 10, authorities launched a desperate search for Ashley, issuing a Statewide Endangered Child Alert. Their efforts led them back to the restaurant, where a horrifying discovery awaited. Ashley's lifeless body was found concealed in the kitchen near the freezer, a tragic testament to a dark betrayal within her own family.
The Investigation Begins
The investigation swiftly zeroed in on Ashley's parents, Ming Ming Chen and Liang Zhao. By January 11, both were arrested, with their bonds set at an imposing $5 million each, reflecting the judge's fear of their potential flight risk. As the layers of this tragic tale unraveled, a disturbing picture emerged.
Ming Ming Chen: A Mother's Confession
Ming Ming Chen, born in 1987/1988, stood at the center of this heartbreaking case. Charged with murder and felonious assault, Chen confessed in a taped police video to beating her daughter to death. She spoke of exhaustion from her work at the restaurant and frustration with Ashley's disobedience, revealing a moment of rage that ended in fatal violence.
Chen's confession continued with a chilling narrative: after realizing Ashley was dead, she instructed her husband, Liang Zhao, to hide the body. Despite initially pleading not guilty by reason of insanity during an October 12, 2017 hearing, Chen later changed her plea. On December 29, 2017, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter, receiving a 22-year prison sentence. Her illegal immigration status meant deportation to China loomed after her release.
Liang Zhao: A Father's Complicity
Liang Zhao, a U.S. citizen, struck a plea deal, agreeing to testify against Chen in exchange for a reduced 12-year sentence. He recounted the harrowing scene upon discovering Ashley: the child lay lifeless with head injuries, "green fluid" oozing from her mouth. Despite his attempts at CPR, Ashley's life had already slipped away. Zhao's subsequent actions—assisting in hiding her body—sealed his fate.
On September 11, 2017, Zhao pleaded guilty to two counts of child endangerment, along with charges of corpse abuse, obstruction of justice, and evidence tampering. His sentencing on January 10, 2018, marked the somber anniversary of Ashley's tragic discovery.
Legal Proceedings and Sentences
Initially charged with murder, both parents saw these charges reduced through plea negotiations. Chen's plea resulted in a 22-year sentence, while Zhao's cooperation earned him 12 years behind bars. These outcomes underscored the judicial system's attempt to balance justice with the complexities of familial betrayal.
Closing Notes
The tragic killing of Ashley Zhao stands as a poignant reminder of the darkness that can lurk within seemingly ordinary lives. Her short life and untimely death exposed the fragile boundaries of trust and the devastating consequences of unchecked rage and resentment. As the legal proceedings concluded, the community of Jackson Township was left to grapple with the loss of an innocent child and the haunting reality of her final days.
Sources
- Missing 5-year-old found dead inside restaurant
- Lawyer: Chinese mom's confession should be kept out of trial
- Ming Ming Chen sentenced to 22 years for death of 5-year-old daughter in Stark County
- Dad who hid daughter's dead body in restaurant sentenced
- Parents charged after dead girl found "concealed" in family's restaurant
- Missing Ohio Girl Found Dead in Chinese Restaurant; Parents Charged
- Statewide endangered child alert issued for missing Ohio girl
- Missing Ohio girl's body found in family's restaurant; parents charged in her beating death
- Police allege mother struck girl found dead, "concealed" in family restaurant
- Missing girl found dead in restaurant, parents charged
- Mum confesses to killing daughter
- Video: Mother Calmly Confesses to Killing Her Daughter, 5
- 'I Just Killed Her and She Died': Ohio Mother's Chilling Confession to 5-Year-Old Daughter's Murder
- Mom enters insanity plea in slaying of girl found hidden in family restaurant
- Ohio Mom Pleads Not Guilty by Insanity in Daughter's Death
- Woman gets 22 years in Ohio prison for killing daughter
- Dad Pleads Guilty to Hiding Daughter's Body in Restaurant
- Mom beats kid, leaves her to die in family's Chinese restaurant
- Man admits to hiding 5-year-old daughter's body in family restaurant after his wife allegedly beat child to death
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
Ashley Zhao Reported Missing
Ashley Zhao disappears from her family's restaurant, prompting a missing persons report.
Body Discovered
Authorities find Ashley's body concealed in the restaurant kitchen during a search.
Parents Arrested
Ming Ming Chen and Liang Zhao are arrested and charged in connection with Ashley's death.
Insanity Plea Entered
Ming Ming Chen pleads not guilty to murder by reason of insanity during a court hearing.
Chen Sentenced
Ming Ming Chen pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter and is sentenced to 22 years in prison.
Zhao Pleads Guilty
Liang Zhao pleads guilty to charges including child endangerment and is sentenced to 12 years.
Zhao Sentenced
Liang Zhao is officially sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in Ashley's death.