Heartbreaking Deception and Tragedy Unveiled in Restaurant Owner's Disturbing Case

In January 2017, Liang Zhao, the owner of a restaurant in Jackson Township, made a distressing 911 call to report his daughter, Ashley, missing. The family, originally from China, had moved to the U.S., driven by Ming Ming Chen's belief in the spiritual practice of Falun Gong. This practice was persecuted in China, and the couple sought a new life abroad.

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During the call, Zhao expressed his concern about not finding his five-year-old daughter, who was last seen sleeping in the restaurant. The call prompted immediate police response, but the shocking truth unfolded later.

Investigations revealed that Ashley had been dead for 12 hours before the parents reported her missing. Chen, the child's mother, had violently assaulted Ashley, leading to her death. Zhao, while not directly responsible for the injuries, attempted to conceal the crime by performing CPR on the lifeless child and hiding her body in the restaurant's walls.

Chen, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and other charges, received a 22-year prison sentence. Despite not causing the injuries, Zhao was sentenced to 12 years in prison, with the judge emphasizing his failure to protect the child. 

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The tragic incident shed light on the dark reality behind the seemingly concerned 911 call, exposing a disturbing case of child abuse and deception.