Heartbreaking teen tragedy stuns China and brings attention to ‘forgotten’ children

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The recent tragic incident in rural northern China, where a 13-year-old boy was allegedly murdered by his classmates, has caused shock and sparked discussions on topics like school bullying, juvenile crime, and the challenges faced by millions of children growing up without their migrant worker parents.

Last week, state media reported that three teenagers have been arrested by the police on suspicion of killing a boy at their junior high school in a village on the outskirts of Handan city in Hebei province. The boy, identified by his surname Wang, was found buried in an abandoned greenhouse with a disfigured body.

Authorities in Handan revealed that the tragic incident took place on March 10, and all the suspects were apprehended by the police the next day.

Police stated that the crime seemed to have been premeditated, as the suspects were discovered to have begun digging Wang's shallow grave a day before his death.

On social media, Wang's family and their lawyer revealed that the boy had endured bullying from the three classmates, all of whom are under the age of 14.

The accusations of bullying and the gruesome nature of the allegedly premeditated murder have captured widespread attention and outrage due to the young ages of those involved. Discussions surrounding the incident have taken over Chinese social media, garnering hundreds of millions of views. Many are calling for harsh punishment, including the death penalty, for the perpetrators.

The tragic event has also shed light on China's "left behind" children, who are often raised by relatives in rural areas while their parents work in cities. State media reported that Wang and the three suspects were all children of rural migrant workers, highlighting the challenges faced by this generation.

The welfare of children left behind in China has been overlooked amidst the country's rapid economic growth, driven by rural migrant workers who work long hours away from home to support their families.

According to China's 2020 population census, over one in five children in the country - almost 67 million under the age of 17 - are left behind by their parents. Research has shown that these children are at a higher risk of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as being more susceptible to abuse and bullying.

Wang’s death is part of a series of heartbreaking events involving “left behind” children that have stirred up public outrage in China in the past few years. These children have been both victims and sometimes even perpetrators of violent acts.

Shuang Lu, an assistant professor in social work at the University of Central Florida, who has researched the welfare of these children, believes that this incident could just be the beginning. She thinks that all “left behind” children require more mental health support.

The alleged murder

Wang, who lived with his grandparents while his father worked in a coastal province, disappeared on the afternoon of March 10. According to the state-run Beijing News, he left home to meet his classmates and never returned.

He was last seen on security camera footage sitting at the back of a scooter with three of his classmates near the school gate.

Before he disappeared and his phone stopped working, his father discovered that all his money on WeChat, China's super app, totaling 191 yuan ($26), was transferred to one of his classmates. His father rushed home upon hearing the news of his disappearance and logged into his son's social media account to look for clues about his whereabouts.

The next day at school, the police spoke to the three classmates who had originally lied to Wang's family about seeing him. One of them confessed to the police that Wang had been killed and disclosed the location of his burial, as reported by the Beijing News.

The neglected greenhouse, surrounded by dry weeds, was located just 100 meters (330 feet) from the suspect's residence, according to the Beijing News. Wang's uncle, who confirmed the body's identity, mentioned that Wang's face had been badly injured.

Aerial photo Chongqing, China.

Aerial photo Chongqing, China.

Jingying Zhao/Moment RF/Getty Images

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Wang's father took to Douyin, which is the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, to share that his son was brutally beaten to death, with his body left unrecognizable due to the extent of the injuries.

He wrote underneath a video showing screenshots of the security camera footage that captured his son’s final appearance in public, expressing his hope for the government to be fair, open, and just, and to impose severe punishment on the murderers. Wang’s father did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.

The family's lawyer, Zang Fanqing, mentioned in a video on Weibo that Wang was a victim of bullying by three classmates for a long time. However, the post has been removed.

According to another classmate interviewed by state broadcaster CCTV, the three suspects would often lock Wang in a shed when they left for a bathroom break during class.

Wang’s aunt shared with the broadcaster that he had written a note to his classmate, expressing his desire to skip class and even die.

She mentioned that Wang had been avoiding school recently and would frequently request money from his grandfather before leaving for school.

"We thought the kid just wanted to buy some yummy food, so we didn’t think much of it. Now thinking back, it all feels a little strange," she said.

She blamed herself for not noticing the signs, recalling a post Wang had written on social media saying he had suicidal thoughts.

The aunt thought that her nephew was feeling stressed about his studies, so she reassured him by saying, "Don't worry about your schoolwork. It's okay whether you do well or not."

Many children who are left behind by their parents face unique challenges and struggles.

Concerns about bullying and violence among school children in China are increasing, as more incidents are being recorded and shared on short-video platforms like Chúng tôi.

A study conducted in 2021 found that "left behind" children are at a higher risk. Nearly one in three of these children reported experiencing repeated bullying and victimization, a higher rate compared to one in four rural children living with their parents.

A survey conducted in 2019 by a Beijing-based NGO focused on "left behind" kids revealed some alarming statistics. The findings showed that 90% of these children had experienced emotional abuse, 65% had been victims of physical violence, and 30% had reported instances of sexual abuse.

In a photo that was posted to the Chinese social media site Weibo, the the mother of Lin Weiqi (left), sits outside Chengdu No.49 High School holding a photo of her deceased son, on Monday to demand answers for his tragic death.

The mother of Lin Weiqi (left) was seen sitting outside Chengdu No.49 High School in a photo posted on Weibo. She was holding a picture of her deceased son and demanding answers for his tragic death.

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Juvenile crime rates in China have been on the rise in recent years. According to a report from CCTV, prosecutors charged a total of 243,000 minors between 2020 and 2023, with an average annual increase of 5%.

In 2021, China made a significant change to its criminal law by lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 14 to 12. However, it is important to note that any prosecution of minors must be approved by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, the highest authority in the country for investigation and prosecution.

Lu, an academic based in the United States, emphasized that while the law is important in dealing with issues after they have occurred, the real key to prevention is providing better care for children's mental health.

She pointed out that there are likely underlying family or social factors contributing to a child's behavior. If these mental health issues are not properly addressed, similar tragedies could occur in the future. Lu stressed the importance of raising awareness, prevention, and intervention for mental health issues among children in China's rural areas, where there is still a stigma surrounding the topic.

Lu emphasized that the key to addressing the challenges faced by millions of "left behind" children lies in reducing the significant gap between rural areas and urban centers. For years, the rapid growth of China's cities and industrial sectors has been sustained by the inexpensive labor provided by numerous migrants, who have not been afforded access to urban social welfare benefits such as education for their offspring.

It is a common occurrence for many "left behind" children to only reunite with their parents during holidays, often not more than a few times annually.

Wang's father shared a video on Douyin of his son playing at the beach and smiling at the camera.

"He took you to the ocean for the first time and asked if you liked it. You said yes, and ever since then, every summer break we come back here. It feels like a dream," he wrote.

“Dad will never take you to see the ocean again, my poor child.”

CNN’s Hassan Tayir and Wayne Chang contributed to this story.

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