Content warning: This story includes graphic depictions of violence and may be distressing to some readers.
On February 21, 2023, Abby Choi disappeared.
She was on her way to pick up one of her children, and when she didn't show, her loved ones grew concerned.
And her absence didn't go unnoticed for long - the Hong Kong-based fashion influencer and model has hundreds of thousands of online fans, and had recently appeared on the covers of Vogue China and L'Officiel Monaco.
This week, the search for Choi reached its end, when investigators confirmed the 28-year-old had been allegedly killed by people close to her.
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On February 24, just a few days after she was reported missing, Choi's remains were found in a rental unit in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong.
The rental unit was in her ex-father-in-law's name, Kwong Kau, and had recently been leased.
It was mostly unfurnished, with canvas covering the walls and windows. Investigators have now alleged that it was designed to be a splatter-proof body disposal workshop.
The details of Choi's death are confronting.
Police allege the 28-year-old was killed by blunt force trauma to the head. It is not yet known what caused the trauma, but forensic experts have identified a hole in the skull caused by a hard object.
She was then reportedly dismembered. Her legs were found in a refrigerator in the rental unit, while police later found her skull and several ribs in a cooking pot in the fridge.
A meat slicer, chainsaw, raincoats, gloves and an electric saw were also found according to police, along with her belongings.
"The flat was arranged meticulously by cold-blooded killers," police superintendent Alan Chung Nga-lun said at a press conference on 25 February.
Police have since charged four people involved in the crime.
Her ex-husband Alex Kwong, his brother, Anthony Kwong, and Choi's ex-father-in-law Kwong Kau, who is a former police officer, were all arrested and charged with murder.
Her ex-mother-in-law, Jenny Li, was also arrested and charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly destroying evidence.
All four defendants appeared in court on Tuesday, reportedly without yet making a plea, and were denied bail.
In the days since, a 47-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly helping Kwong rent the property where Choi's body was found.
The woman is also alleged to have organised a hideout for Alex Kwong.
He was allegedly planning to escape the city by speedboat, but was tracked down by investigators and taken into custody.
According to the Morning Post, Kwong was arrested with $500,000 HK in cash (approximately $94,200 AUD) and several luxury watches worth a total of roughly $4 million HK (approximately $753,700 AUD).
Abby Choi married Alex Kwong in 2012 when she was 18. The couple had two children together before divorcing.
Despite ending their marriage, Choi financially helped Kwong and his family.
Choi was reportedly the eldest of three daughters, coming from a wealthy family who operated a construction company with dealings in mainland China.
She had previously assisted her ex-brother-in-law, Anthony Kwong, in buying his own home. He was also her personal chauffeur, often sharing pictures of the two of them on social media.
Choi had also bought a home used by the whole Kwong family - a four-bedroom, 1,820-square-foot luxury apartment in Hong Kong's exclusive Kandoorie Hill neighbourhood.
Police say despite the home being paid for by Choi, it had been registered in the name of Alex Kwong's father Kwong Kau, allegedly in order to avoid a large stamp duty bill.
Recently, Choi had decided to sell the property, still promising to find the Kwongs a new home.
But the family was upset by this move.
Police now believe her death is linked to the financial disputes, arguing it could be the central motive.
"Someone was dissatisfied with how the victim handled her assets," a lead investigator said, as per The Guardian.
Despite the alleged culprits creating "plenty of lies and smokescreens to mislead", surveillance footage and the rental unit evidence was what got them caught.
In 2016, Choi married Chris Tam, who remained her partner until she passed. They also had two children together.
Tam is the son of the founder of a popular chain restaurant and Hong Kong listed company, Tam Jai International.
It's been reported that Choi's mother and Tam have been looking after her four children.
In the wake of his wife's death, Tam has said he was "grateful" to have had the time he did with Choi, describing her as "kind-hearted and a good person".
"[She] always wanted to help people. I feel anyone who had a chance to be her family or her friend are blessed," he said in a statement.
"She also brought up four cute and obedient kids. She supported me and loved me very much."
Following the news of her death, thousands of comments have been left under Choi's Instagram page from fans sending their condolences.
Her work in the animal rescue non-profit space has also been recognised, after she set up a charitable organisation for the cause.
"I haven't imagined that a person who's so good, so full of love, so innocent, a person who doesn't do anything bad, will be killed like this," one of her close friends, Bernard Cheng, told the Associated Press.
"My heart is still heavy. I can't sleep well."
If this has raised any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service.
Feature Image: Instagram.
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