Shanghai man found dismembered in US, wife held
By Luo Man (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-09-05 06:06

SHANGHAI: A Shanghai man was murdered in the United States days before his wife was arrested while trying to re-enter China using the victim's passport, according to police sources in Shanghai and the United States.

The body was found shot and dismembered in a car near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport hours before police found evidence he may have been murdered in the apartment he shared with his wife.

Lei He, a 28-year-old mechanical engineering student at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, had been missing for a few days by the time a body was found in the trunk of a car authorities believe to be his.

Police in Lafayette said the victim's wife, Danlei Chen, was still being held by authorities in China.

Contacted on Friday, Shanghai police said they are investigating but would not give any more details.

Police in Rosemont, Illinois received a call about a strong smell coming from the trunk of the car. They found a dismembered body on August 30 in the trunk of a 1997 Buick reportedly abandoned in a parking garage near the airport.

Lei had been reported missing on August 26.

Lafayette police handling the investigation said the victim had been shot at least once in the head, and the body had been dismembered and put in the trunk.

The Buick had been registered to Lei and his wife Danlei of West Lafayette.

During a search of the couple's home, police said they found possible evidence of a crime, but did not elaborate.

In a news release, Lafayette police said they had contacted Lei's family in China but did not release details.

Authorities are conducting an autopsy.

(China Daily 09/05/2005 page3)