Elizabeth Zhong homicide: victim killed at home before being put in car boot – police

An East Auckland woman was killed in her home before being stuffed into the trunk of her car, police say.

Ying Zhong (also known as Elizabeth Zhong), 55, was found dead in Sunnyhills last Saturday. It is believed that she was murdered.

Police have formally identified the victim as Zhong, Acting Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers told the media this afternoon.

“Elizabeth was murdered in her home,” Vickers said.

She was placed in her Land Rover when she passed away and household items were placed on her, Vickers said. He did not say what the items were.

Examination of the scene will continue for some time, Vickers said.

The police investigation focuses on the night of Friday, November 27 to November 28. The latest confirmed sighting is that she is alive at her home at 4.30pm on Friday.

“We have a team of detectives working on the investigation and we are making progress every day,” Vickers said.

The phone call to police was made by a close associate of Elizabeth’s, Vickers said. Police were called to the address around 10 am on Saturday, November 28. Police located her in the trunk of her Land Rover that day.

When asked what time he died, he said they were focusing their investigations on the period between 4:30 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. M. From Saturday, when the vehicle was found.

CCTV-based investigations are underway in your home area.

When asked about the sightings of an unknown man near Elizabeth’s home, Vickers said: “I am aware of that information. The investigation team is keeping an open mind, but it is early and we must prioritize … it will be part Of the investigation.”

Questions remain about how Zhong has fared so badly in recent years.

The East Auckland grandmother took over the Digipost post-production house and an associated $ 7 million estate in 2017.

On Friday, a person familiar with the Digipost deal rejected claims that there was a lack of due diligence when Zhong bought the company.

Instead, the person described lengthy and detailed negotiations and said that Zhong was sincere and ambitious when it came to making movies.

But a source said that Zhong’s inability to make the projects successful in recent years was problematic and ultimately put the company in danger.

Other companies Zhong was previously involved with included Kennedy Point Vineyard on Waiheke Island and Carrick Wines in Central Otago.

An employee at the vineyard said Zhong had had nothing to do with Waiheke’s organic winemaker since the liquidators took office last December.

Zhong’s Sunbow Group described itself online as previously in charge of the vineyards and the Digipost film production company.

But all three companies were recently sold or went into bankruptcy or liquidation.

Some people familiar with Zhong described her as warm-hearted, dynamic, and personable.

“He was a warm and generous person,” Digipost founder and former owner Garry Little said Friday.

“She always remembered people’s birthdays.”

In February 2019, Zhong announced “reluctant” plans to sell his Carrick vineyard and winery, describing it as the “vineyard of his dreams.”

On October 30 of this year, BDO’s Andrew McKay and Andrew Bethell were designated as Sunbow receivers.

Bethell earlier this week said she was “very sad” to learn of Zhong’s death and that her thoughts were with those who knew her and her family.

He declined to discuss the company’s debt level.

• Police have previously said that anyone with information should call 105, citing file number 201128/1909.