Mrs Dai, a 34-year-old mother of two from rural Hunan province in southeast China, was distraught upon learning of her husband's sudden death. Police told Mrs Dai in early September 2018 that a car, hired in her husband Mr He's name, had been discovered submerged in a river. Authorities concluded Mr He had taken his own life, despite no body being recovered.
Mr He owed more than 100,000 yuan (£10,500) accumulated through predatory loans obtained from online lenders to fund medical treatment for his three-year-old daughter, who had severe epilepsy. Mr He's death meant these financial obligations, along with responsibility for their ill daughter, transferred entirely to Mrs Dai. Mrs Dai discovered her husband had secretly arranged an insurance policy valued at one million yuan (£110,000), naming her as the sole beneficiary.
I wanted to leave alone, but without their parents, my son and daughter will be in pain and will be bullied like me.
Three weeks following Mr He's disappearance, Mrs Dai's body was discovered in a pond close to the family home, together with those of her daughter and her four-year-old son. Police concluded Mrs Dai had carried out a double murder-suicide, drowning the children in the murky waters before drowning herself. In a suicide note posted to Chinese social media platform WeChat, Mrs Dai conveyed a wish to reunite their family in death and concerns that, should she leave her children alive, they would face social ostracism.
The post rapidly spread across China as the case became a nationwide sensation. One day following the tragic deaths of the mother and her children, Mr He surrendered to police, confessing he had staged his own death to evade his debts. Mr He had anticipated his insurance policy would assist in funding his daughter's treatment.
My daughter, who is ill, has to get medical checks every month. I have to pay off car loans, and our family expenses. I'm also sick. I did this to avoid debts. I never thought my wife would be so infatuated with me.
Prior to surrendering, Mr He published a video online, explaining tearfully that he had intended to go into hiding before collecting his wife and children so they could begin afresh. Mr He had not informed his wife of these intentions.