Chinese man fakes car accident to murder 7-year-old son, seeks insurance money in family dispute

In a shocking case out of southeastern China, a man became enraged upon discovering his wife’s affair and collaborated with his cousin to stage the death of his own son for insurance money. This incident, which unfolded in 2020 in Sanming city, Fujian province, has recently been brought to light by the Fujian Provincial Court and has since sparked significant attention online. Following heated arguments with his wife over finances and her unfaithfulness, Zhang orchestrated a plan to cause the death of his seven-year-old son in order to cash in on insurance policies. His cousin, a truck driver whose employer held substantial insurance on the vehicle, became an unwitting accomplice in the plot. Zhang deliberately positioned his car on the road with his son inside, then directed the boy to step out and stand by the vehicle. Shortly after, the cousin’s truck collided with the car, resulting in the tragic death of the child. Zhang, feigning grief, held his lifeless son as authorities arrived on the scene. Misleading investigators, Zhang failed to disclose his familial link to the truck driver. In the aftermath, Zhang was able to secure a significant insurance payout of 180,000 yuan (US$25,000) and compensated his cousin with 30,000 yuan. The cousin was handed a suspended sentence for causing the fatal accident and was ordered to pay the child’s family one million yuan (US$140,000), largely covered by the truck’s insurer. Nevertheless, when it came to light that the cousin had falsified his credentials to operate the truck, leading to the insurance payout being denied, the truck owner, Luo, was mandated by the court to make amends to the family. Upon learning of this development, Luo and Zhang’s acquaintance, Ye, alerted the authorities. Despite being aware of Zhang’s sinister scheme, Ye had chosen not to intervene out of fear, ultimately aiding in exposing the truth. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of Zhang and his cousin, with the latter receiving a death sentence with a reprieve of two years, a fine, and an order to return the insurance money to Zhang. Zhang was also sentenced to death but has appealed for a reduction in punishment; the outcome of his appeal remains undisclosed. This unsettling saga has reverberated across social media, with a post generating over 32 million views. One commentator remarked on the monstrous nature of Zhang's actions, denouncing him as selfish and undeserving of the title of father.