There are grave fears for the husband of the woman whose severely decomposed body was found dumped near Sydney Airport.
The body of Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li, 33, was discovered on Monday by a jogger in a serious state of decomposition and wrapped in plastic at Sir Joseph Banks Park off Foreshore Road, in Botany, in Sydney’s southeast.
Police fear Ms Li’s husband, Jai-Bao ‘Rex’ Chen, 33, may also have been killed.
Homicide Squad officers confiscated a silver Toyota Avensis, which does not belong to either of them, as they believe it was used to transport Ms Li’s body.
On Saturday, homicide squad commander Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said police are “trying to identify the third party.”
“At the moment we are mainly focusing on Rex, but we have to keep an open mind, we are considering a strong possibility that there is a third too,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
Police said there was no link between the car and Ms Li or Mr Chen and have launched a massive search for a “third person”.
“We are investigating associations and friends of Sally and Rex who may have been in a position to transport a body to Botany and then also cover the actual body at the crime scene,” Detective Superintendent Doherty said.
There are serious fears for the husband of the woman whose severely decomposed body was found dumped near Sydney airport.
The body of Zhuojun ‘Sally’ Li, 33, was discovered wrapped in plastic at Sir Joseph Banks Park (pictured) off Foreshore Road, in Botany, in Sydney’s south-east, on Monday.
‘There is a question mark over whether Rex is a person of interest or a victim. We don’t know yet.’
Detective Superintendent Doherty said Chen was last seen alive in November and there was a “strong investigative theory” that a third party could be involved.
“Not only in the alleged murder of Sally, but we also have to consider a third party involved in Rex’s disappearance,” Mr Doherty said.
He added: “At this time we believe he (Rex) is in Australia, but we don’t know if he is dead or alive.”
Doherty said they were a “normal couple” who had no known links to organized crime.
Concerns for Mr. Chen’s safety arise as The Australian revealed that Mr Chen has a number of drug-related convictions.
Chen was convicted in 2022 and sentenced to an 18-month Community Corrections Order for supplying a prohibited drug.
The order expired in January of this year.
A homicide squad officer confiscated a silver Toyota Avensis (pictured) which they believe was used to transport Ms Li’s body.
He was subject to additional conditions: he had to be supervised by a Community Corrections officer and continue treatment for his “alcohol and drug problems.”
Mr. Chen was also found guilty of possession of stolen goods, although no other penalties were imposed.
Chen was also found guilty in August 2020 of possession of a prohibited drug, but signed a probation order and was not sentenced.
His Probation Order was revoked in November 2020 when he breached his conditions by committing new offences.
He was found guilty of four counts of supplying a “small quantity” of prohibited drugs and sentenced to a 12-month Community Corrections Order.
Mr Chen was also found guilty of two counts of possession of a prohibited drug and given another six-month community corrections order.