A yearbook photograph has emerged of a girl who was allegedly murdered by her own mother, as a devastated community prepares to hold a candlelight vigil in her memory.
Sophie Wang, 10, a Year 5 student at Emmanuel College, could not be revived after emergency services arrived at her home in Emerald Lakes, in Carrara, on the Gold Coast, shortly after 6pm on Tuesday.
Her father found the 10-year-old girl with her throat supposedly slit and called triple zero.
Sophie’s mother, Yingying Xu, 46, was arrested on a nearby street shortly before 10.30pm and later charged with murder.
A class photograph of Sophie smiling as she sat in the front row, published in a school yearbook, surfaced after her tragic death.
The heartbreaking reminder of the bright, happy little girl comes as heartbroken locals prepare to honor Sophie.
A candlelight vigil will be held at Main Fountain at 3030 The Boulevard Emerald Lakes this Friday starting at 4 p.m.
Mourners are urged to bring flowers or toys, but candles will be provided.
A photograph emerged of Sophie Wang (pictured) smiling for a school yearbook photo after her death.
The crime scene is still in place at the family home as grieving locals continue to try to come to terms with the horrific incident.
Floral tributes for Sophie continue to grow outside the home.
Neighbor Beverly Hanly, who has lived next door to the family for years, said she was shocked by Sophie’s death.
“They were beautiful, kind, wonderful neighbors,” Ms. Hanly said. Costa Dorada Newsletter.
“I spoke to them often and knew them well.”
Ms Hanly, who became friends with the family, said she had not seen them recently because she, like her neighbours, had been busy.
“I never imagined something like this would happen,” he said.
The community, which was devastated by Sophie’s death, will hold a candlelight vigil on Friday evening in her honour (pictured: Sophie Wang)
Another resident, Kevin Cruikshank, described the situation as very sad for those involved.
“It’s very hard… the family is very similar to ours,” she told ABC.
“You can imagine how each member of that family feels. It’s just a small sample of what we can do to express our feelings.”
The impact of Sophie’s death has been felt across the community, including at AFL club Gold Coast Suns, whose home ground is close to Emerald Lakes.
“We’ve had a huge tragedy in the Gold Coast community… so our football club sends our condolences to everyone involved,” Suns coach Damien Hardwick said.
On Thursday, some of Sophie’s school uniform items were seen drying on a clothesline on the balcony at the back of the house.
The Carrara community and Emmanuel College, which is 600 metres from the family home, are dealing with shock and grief in the wake of the horrific incident.
Several children accompanied by their parents left flowers at the site on their way to school on Thursday.
Staff from Emmanuel College were also seen placing tributes outside the house.
Police tape still blocks off the residential street and a large forensic criminal van sits outside the property’s front gate, as a team of officers could be seen entering and exiting the suburban home on Thursday.
A mother whose daughter was in Sophie’s choir laid daffodils at the site.
“Everyone is in shock, no one will ever understand. It’s very hard for the children,” said the mother of two.
She revealed that Sophie was in the Emmanuel College book club, a flagship program for children who have read more than a million words.
“We often saw her reading in the library in the mornings. She was a great reader,” added her mother.
Sophie Wang, a fifth-year student at Emmanuel College, has been remembered by her schoolmates as intelligent and kind.
Sophie’s mother, Yingying Xu (pictured), 46, was arrested on a nearby street shortly before 10.30pm and later charged with murder.
In a heartbreaking reminder of the domestic tragedy, some of Sophie’s school uniform items could be seen drying on the clothesline on the balcony at the back of the house (pictured).
Oliver Hayes (pictured), a classmate of Sophie’s 11-year-old, left flowers outside her home on Wednesday afternoon with his mother and other school friends. “She was one of the smartest girls in our school,” Oliver said.
On Thursday morning, several children accompanied by their parents left flowers at the scene on their way to school.
Sophie’s classmate Oliver Hayes, 11, left flowers outside her house a day earlier with his mother and other school friends.
“She was one of the smartest girls in our school,” Oliver said.
“There are so many words to describe her. She was so nice, she cared so much about people and she was so kind.”
A neighbour who lived across the street from where the tragedy occurred described Sophie as a “very friendly girl”.
Amanda, 68, said she was in the same class as her grandson and used to watch her walk to and from school.
“I could always hear her playing music,” Amanda told Daily Mail Australia.
“She was always walking to and from school. She was very friendly and always said hello. A very friendly girl.”
Amanda said her grandson was receiving counseling at school.
“He always talked about Sophie. They got along very well,” she added.
Police tape remains blocking off the residential street and a large forensic criminal van sits outside the front gate of the property, as a team of officers could be seen entering and leaving the suburban home on Thursday morning (pictured)
“It’s terrible. The school and the entire community are in a state of shock.”
On Wednesday, Daily Mail Australia revealed that detectives are investigating religious TikToks Sophie’s mother made on the same day she allegedly killed her.
A day earlier, Xu had posted three videos on TikTok in which he mumbled to the camera about religion in Chinese.
In the clips, Xu talks about Christianity and how the “trinity” is the “only true god” and “Jesus is the incarnate son of man.”
The videos will form part of the investigation into the case, which seasoned detectives have described as one of the “most confrontational” they have ever seen.
“In my 15 years as a detective, this is one of the most shocking scenes I have ever seen,” Acting Inspector Kent Ellis told reporters.
Associate Professor Yun Wang (pictured) arrived home on Tuesday evening to find his daughter allegedly murdered. He put on a blue forensic suit and was helping police piece together what allegedly happened just hours after her tragic death.
An Emanuel College staff member pays his respects Thursday after the girl was allegedly murdered by her mother.
The tragedy has also shaken staff at Griffith University, where Professor Wang works in the department of chemistry and forensic science, specialising in renewable energy.
Two male colleagues of Professor Wang arrived at the house on Wednesday afternoon with food, but were turned away by an officer who told them the father was not there.
The university is offering support to Professor Wang and his close colleagues.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of the daughter of a valued member of the Griffith community,” the university said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
Xu was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on November 29.
