Married Couple from Sydney Killed, Likely Linked to Gambling Debt

A married couple from Sydney, Australia, bodies were discovered in Sydney Park, and local authorities believe loan sharks may have done the murders. 

According to New South Wales homicide detectives, they believed the husband, Jai-Bao “Rex” Chen, 33, had racked up a large amount of debt with a loan shark due to problem gambling. 

This is one of the latest international murders, with gambling money being at the center of it since a Thai serial killer poisoned victims to steal from them to fund a gambling addiction.

Details of the Case

Chen’s wife, Zhuojun “Sally” Li, had disappeared from their home in Greenacre, Sydney, last month. Her body was discovered last Monday. It was found partially buried and wrapped in plastic. A jogger found the body, and a search for Chen began. 

On Tuesday, Chen’s body was found in a creek about 30 feet from where Li’s body was located. 

“The body [was] submerged in a creek in water, covered with very thick bush foliage, bulrush reeds, which makes it very difficult to see and has been there for some time,” Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said to reporters. 

Where Police Are In the Investigation

After looking over security footage, authorities believe the couple was killed in their apartment on Nov. 30, and their bodies were driven away in a silver Toyota Avensis to Sir Joseph Banks Park in Botany. 

There are believed to be two or three killers. Police believe those killers then drove to the Sydney Airport, flew to Queensland, and then fled the country to either China or Taiwan. 

Police seized the Toyota at the airport.

Background on the Couple

Additionally, Doherty believes that the killer used Chen’s phone after his death. Police have recovered the phone, and Doherty confirmed this is likely due to financial troubles. 

“They owed money,” he said. “There was no other criminality that we were aware of, and certainly Sally has unfortunately become a victim because of that.”

Per The Telegraph,  Chen’s wife was unaware of the extent of the financial troubles. 

Doherty described Li and Chen as a “normal couple” and said they didn’t have links to organized crime. However, Chen had issues with addiction and had multiple convictions. As part of his parole, he was tasked to undergo treatment. 

Doherty said that they’re working with both the Chinese and Taiwanese authorities to track down the suspected killers.