Murder charge laid in Cecilia Zhang case
CTV.ca News Staff
A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of nine-year-old Cecilia Zhang, Toronto police have confirmed.
Min Chen has been charged with first-degree murder. He is a Chinese national who has been on a student visa from Shanghai since 2001.
Another person was arrested but only Chen has been charged.
"We have resolved this case, and we intend to bring the person responsible to justice," Peel Police chief Noel Catney told a news conference Thursday.
"Yes, there is some satisfaction, there is some elation. But without question, I think I reflect the position of the task force members... it is superseded still by our sadness and by our loss."
Cecilia was abducted from her north Toronto home Oct. 20, 2003, after going to bed. Police found her body more than five months later, on March 27, in a wooded area west of the city.
Chen was arrested on Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET at his Scarborough home. He made a brief court appearance this morning and will be back in court Aug. 19.
Catney said that Cecilia's parents knew of the man and were "devastated" when they learned of the arrest.
The Peel Police chief said Chen was an "associate" of a young lady who was a boarder at the Zhang home. The woman lived at the home from September 2002 to March 2003. Chen went to the home on at least four different occasions and had met with the parents and Cecilia.
"(Cecilia) was quite comfortable in his company and in his presence," he said.
Chen was also known to police for several weeks, Catney said.
Cecilia's father, Raymond Zhang, told CFTO News by telephone Thursday morning that he was grateful for what the police have done. "They are working very hard and they are very intelligent."
He and his wife later released a public statement thanking police "for their professionalism and their diligent pursuit of justice," and the public "for their support and for the respect shown to the memory of Cecilia."
Catney went through the alleged events leading up to the little girl's disappearance. He said an assailant entered the house at approximately 3:30 a.m. through a rear window in the kitchen area of the home.
The assailant went to Cecilia's bedroom and removed her from the home. He left through a side door exit and took her to an unknown location, Catney said.
Despite an exhaustive search, her body wasn't found until more than five months later, by a resident of the Peel region out for a walk.
Catney described the case as "global in nature," noting the arrests are the result of working with police in mainland China, the FBI, and other police agencies across Canada and the United States.
Police have not released a motive for the kidnapping. It was originally thought Cecilia, a Grade 4 gifted student, was kidnapped for ransom, but no ransom demand was known to have been received.
Weeks after the girl's skeletal remains were discovered, the lead investigator in the case called the murder "absolutely a solvable crime."
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CTV.ca News Staff
A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of nine-year-old Cecilia Zhang, Toronto police have confirmed.
Min Chen has been charged with first-degree murder. He is a Chinese national who has been on a student visa from Shanghai since 2001.
Another person was arrested but only Chen has been charged.
"We have resolved this case, and we intend to bring the person responsible to justice," Peel Police chief Noel Catney told a news conference Thursday.
"Yes, there is some satisfaction, there is some elation. But without question, I think I reflect the position of the task force members... it is superseded still by our sadness and by our loss."
Cecilia was abducted from her north Toronto home Oct. 20, 2003, after going to bed. Police found her body more than five months later, on March 27, in a wooded area west of the city.
Chen was arrested on Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET at his Scarborough home. He made a brief court appearance this morning and will be back in court Aug. 19.
Catney said that Cecilia's parents knew of the man and were "devastated" when they learned of the arrest.
The Peel Police chief said Chen was an "associate" of a young lady who was a boarder at the Zhang home. The woman lived at the home from September 2002 to March 2003. Chen went to the home on at least four different occasions and had met with the parents and Cecilia.
"(Cecilia) was quite comfortable in his company and in his presence," he said.
Chen was also known to police for several weeks, Catney said.
Cecilia's father, Raymond Zhang, told CFTO News by telephone Thursday morning that he was grateful for what the police have done. "They are working very hard and they are very intelligent."
He and his wife later released a public statement thanking police "for their professionalism and their diligent pursuit of justice," and the public "for their support and for the respect shown to the memory of Cecilia."
Catney went through the alleged events leading up to the little girl's disappearance. He said an assailant entered the house at approximately 3:30 a.m. through a rear window in the kitchen area of the home.
The assailant went to Cecilia's bedroom and removed her from the home. He left through a side door exit and took her to an unknown location, Catney said.
Despite an exhaustive search, her body wasn't found until more than five months later, by a resident of the Peel region out for a walk.
Catney described the case as "global in nature," noting the arrests are the result of working with police in mainland China, the FBI, and other police agencies across Canada and the United States.
Police have not released a motive for the kidnapping. It was originally thought Cecilia, a Grade 4 gifted student, was kidnapped for ransom, but no ransom demand was known to have been received.
Weeks after the girl's skeletal remains were discovered, the lead investigator in the case called the murder "absolutely a solvable crime."
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