Cook killed self: autopsy

By Cai Ke (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-26 08:01

SHISHOU, Hubei: Forensic experts and doctors have confirmed Tu Yuangao, a cook at the Yonglong Hotel, whose mysterious death sparked civil unrest here last week, "committed suicide by jumping off a high building", local authorities said Thursday.

Liu Yunchang, a spokesman for the government of Shishou city, Hubei province, said experts from the Ministry of Public Security and Tongji Medical Institute carried out an autopsy, which confirmed he "committed suicide".

Tu's dead body was cremated at 4 am yesterday, he said.

The provincial public security bureau and Jingzhou police criminal technical department yesterday also claimed to have recovered an "unsigned letter" from Tu's residence, which reads: "I don't know what's happened to me. There is a shadow always looming over me. Maybe it's my destiny."

Authorities claimed they have confirmed the handwriting in the letter "matches" that of Tu's.

The cook's body was found lying near the gate of the Yonglong Hotel on the evening of June 17, with multiple injuries to his chin and chest.

An initial investigation revealed Tu committed suicide, but his family refused to believe it.

Rumors spread wide and fast that Tu was killed because he threatened to expose drug dealings in the hotel after he failed to get his monthly pay, triggering a mass protest against the government's suicide theory.

"Tu had no reason to commit suicide. I just spoke to him a week before his death, and he sounded normal and happy," Tu's elder brother Tu Yuanxin said yesterday.

"I still have many questions regarding my brother's death. But the officials refuse to show us the autopsy report."

"I also talked with him on the day before his death, when he asked me if he could help me get pig feed," said the cook's father Tu Deming.

After Tu's body was taken to a local funeral parlor, negotiations to cremate the corpse began between the deceased's family and the government, Tu Yuanxin told China Daily.

"The body was cremated after the two parties agreed on a settlement amount at 3 am yesterday," he said.

The government promised the deceased's family a total of 80,000 yuan ($11,764), including 30,000 yuan from the Yonglong Hotel, 35,000 yuan from the Shishou government and 15,000 yuan from the Gaojimiao township government, Tu's uncle Tu Deqiang said.

"The family has already received 50,000 yuan in cash and 30,000 yuan in a debt bill," he said.

An official surnamed Xiong of the Jingzhou publicity office insisted the settlement payment was "not a compensation, but humanitarian relief".

However, some local residents believe there is more to Tu's death than just a suicide.

"Drugs are a thriving business in Shishou," said a taxi driver, refusing to be named. As he drove past a narrow alleyway, dotted with small tobacco shops on either side, he said: "This is where most addicts get their fix. The entire place is empty now and all the shops are closed."

A resident of Shishou surnamed Yang said: "Everyone in the city knows of drug dealing in hotels and entertainment venues. But the Shishou police won't do anything about it."

Since Tu's death and the Yonglong Hotel's alleged links to the city's massive drug trade came to light, the price of banned and illegal substances has gone up.

"A gram of heroin which used to cost 600 yuan now comes for 1,000 yuan," a drug user requesting anonymity said.

Xinhua contributed to the story