Human remains found in a shallow grave in Greenpark, Canterbury, have been confirmed as belonging to missing woman Yanfei Bao.
Earlier this week, an "investigative lead" saw a team of 60 search staff at private farmland in the Greenpark area. After an hour and a half along the tree line, a shallow grave about 150 mm deep was discovered.
A post-mortem of the remains was carried out Wednesday, and today, police confirmed they belonged to the 44-year-old mother.
“This news brings to a close a key aspect of our investigation, and Yanfei will now be returned to her family,” Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said.
Bao, a 44-year-old mother and real estate agent, was last seen alive in the suburb of Wigram on July 19, 2023.
A day later, police announced she was missing, and a week after that, her disappearance was upgraded to a homicide investigation.
In September, Tingjun Cao, 53, pleaded not guilty to Bao's kidnapping and murder. He was arrested at Christchurch Airport just days after Bao's disappearance and, in mid-August last year, was charged with her murder. He was remanded in custody for trial later this year.
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