Taichung, Taiwan – September 27, 2025
A shocking case of suspected abuse has emerged in Taichung’s Dajia District after a 21-year-old woman, surnamed Chen, was found dead inside her home. Authorities revealed she had been severely malnourished and emaciated, with her body blackened and peeling, suggesting she had been dead for nearly a week before discovery.
Investigators suspect that Chen’s 50-year-old mother, surnamed Zhan, had locked her daughter in a room for “discipline,” claiming she was not well-behaved. Prosecutors said Chen’s father, 54, who worked in a factory, failed to intervene despite living in the same household.
According to reports, the victim was the couple’s second daughter and had dropped out of high school. While her older sister studied elsewhere, she lived with her parents in a townhouse on Yanmen Road. Neighbors told police they suspected Chen had been confined for an extended period, even though her parents claimed they had seen her recently.
Chen’s father reportedly broke into her room only after detecting a foul odor, discovering his daughter lifeless on the bed. Authorities found no evidence of external restraints or religious influence inside the room. However, autopsy results confirmed the victim had been starved over a prolonged period, pointing to chronic neglect and malnutrition rather than short-term deprivation.
Prosecutors have ordered further testing, including gastrointestinal and toxicology examinations, to confirm whether starvation was the direct cause of death.
Following interrogation, prosecutors accused Mrs. Zhan of custodial homicide. The Taichung District Court approved her detention, citing the risk of evidence tampering and concealment of the death. Meanwhile, Mr. Chen was reclassified from a witness to a suspect. While his role as an accomplice remains unclear, he was released on NT$100,000 bail for obstruction of liberty.
The case has sparked public outrage, with authorities emphasizing the need for deeper investigation into possible long-term abuse within the family.
