Decades-Long Captivating Poisoning Mystery in China Ends with Woman's Death
Tragic end to a captivating mystery: After enduring decades of incapacitation from a poisoning incident as a college student, the enigmatic woman at the center of China's high-profile cold case has sadly passed away at age 50
Zhu Ling, who was left paralyzed for years after being poisoned as a college student in a well-known unsolved case in China, has passed away at the age of 50. Her alma mater, Tsinghua University, confirmed her death in a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, where an outpouring of condolences has been shared.
"Throughout her life, Zhu Ling bravely battled against the pain for many years. The prestigious Beijing-based university, often referred to as "China's MIT," expressed that Zhu had always received care, support, and encouragement from numerous alumni and people from all walks of life. Zhu's father, Wu Chengzhi, confirmed her passing on Friday evening to the news outlet Southern Metropolis Daily, stating that she would be buried in Beijing. The outlet also reported that her funeral is scheduled for Sunday."
Zhu, a talented musician and second-year chemistry major at Tsinghua in 1994, started suffering from stomach pain, hair loss, and other mysterious symptoms that were later discovered to be thallium poisoning, according to reports by state media. Thallium, a highly toxic chemical found in rodent and insect poisons, resulted in Zhu losing almost all of her vision and a significant decrease in mental capacity, leaving her with the cognitive abilities of a six-year-old.
After suffering for months, she slipped into a coma before the cause of her illness was eventually identified. Despite suspicions of foul play and a police inquiry, no one has faced charges.
Zhu's case has continued to attract national attention in the decades since she was poisoned, leading to widespread anger and demands for justice and accountability. Her death became the most searched topic on Weibo on Saturday, with over 400 million views by Saturday afternoon, as Chinese internet users expressed their grief.
Yan Feng, a linguistics professor from Fudan University with 5.5 million Weibo followers, expressed intense anger at the injustice and suffering endured by the deceased for 30 years. He added, "May she rest in peace, and may the living find calmness."
Another comment with over 10,000 likes paid tribute to Zhu, the girl who loved the guqin, wishing her a peaceful journey free from pain in heaven.
An inconclusive investigation
On Saturday, other social media users concentrated on the unsuccessful investigation by Chinese authorities and previous allegations that the probe may have been abandoned because of the influential connections of a former suspect's family. Their remarks reflected the recurring demands for justice in the case that have periodically surfaced in China.
Yaqiu Wang, research director for China at the Washington DC-based non-profit Freedom House, explained that the reason Zhus case resonates with so many in China is because they see a reflection of themselves in her. Wang pointed out that many people in China have experienced injustice without a fair, independent, or transparent investigation by the authorities. Additionally, Zhus devoted parents represent the familial care that many in China rely on due to the untrustworthy and unreliable nature of the system.
The Chinese justice system is known for its lack of transparency, and rights groups have consistently claimed that it can be influenced by political agendas. Despite China's assertion that it upholds and has reinforced the rule of law, concerns about the fairness of the system persist.
In the aftermath of the poisoning incident, authorities initially looked into one of Zhu's roommates, Sun Wei, as a potential suspect. However, according to earlier reports from the state news agency Xinhua, she was later cleared of any involvement.
Netizens in the past have attributed the lack of progress in the investigation to Sun's family background. The fatal poisoning case at a Shanghai college dorm in April 2013 reignited national interest, prompting social media users to initiate a petition to the United States government urging it to take action against the former suspect, who they suspected of residing in the country.
Sun's grandfather held a high-ranking position in the Nationalist government until the Communist takeover in 1949. He then occupied senior, albeit mostly symbolic, roles in the People's Republic until his passing in 1995. Another relative, a cousin of Sun's father, served as a national leader from 1993 to 2003 while serving as a vice-chairman of China's leading political advisory body.
Reportedly, Sun has made several online statements on Tianya, a Chinese Internet discussion forum, including one in 2005. In this statement, she claimed that the police cleared her as a suspect in 1998 due to a lack of evidence. Additionally, state media reported that Sun had access to thallium in the university laboratory. She denied being the sole student with access to the toxic substance and also denied any personal animosity between herself and Zhu. Sun addressed her family's political connections by stating that her grandfather had passed away by the time she was questioned.
Sun stated in 2006 that her family had filed a request with the police on her behalf, asking for the authorities to re-open the investigation in order to "uncover the truth."
In 2013, when the Shanghai case reignited public interest in Zhu's case, Sun returned to the Tianya platform and expressed her desire to "bring the true culprit to justice more than anyone else."
