The diabolical plot, which sounds like something straight out of a horror movie, unfolded when Zhang hurled his children, aged just 2 and 1, from the 15th-floor balcony of a residential tower in Chongqing, China.
The heinous act was spurred by Zhang’s twisted love affair with Ye, who saw the children as a ‘burden’ on their future together. This chilling case has sent shivers down the spine of the nation, with the details of the affair revealing a dark and disturbing motive. Zhang, already married and a father, embarked on an illicit relationship with Ye, who was initially oblivious to his marital status.
As the sordid affair spiraled, Ye pushed Zhang into committing the unthinkable – eliminating his children, whom she viewed as obstacles to their union. In a horrifying act of cruelty, Zhang threw his daughter, Zhang Ruixue, and son, Zhang Yangrui, from their apartment window, only to then feign grief and shock in a despicable display of deceit.
The tragedy deepened as Zhang concocted a lie, claiming he was asleep during the incident, only to be awakened by the commotion caused by the discovery of his children’s bodies. The little girl died instantly, while the baby boy succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
The children’s heartbroken mother, Chen Meilin, recounted the horrific day, revealing that Zhang had taken the children under the pretense of caring for them, only to commit the unforgivable crime. She detailed how Zhang’s murderous act followed a dramatic scene where Ye slit her wrists during a video call, leading to the fatal decision.
Local media reported that Zhang and Ye had coldly plotted the children’s death to pave the way for a new family, free from ties to his previous marriage. The mother’s agony was palpable as she expressed her inability to comprehend the terror her children faced in their final moments.
In court, Zhang’s remorse was overshadowed by his monstrous actions, while Ye repeatedly denied her involvement. However, justice was served as both were found guilty and sentenced to death for conspiring to stage the ‘accidental’ fall, a sentence that was carried out, bringing a grim closure to this horrifying saga.
