The strange tragedy of a model’s murder in Hong Kong

You might be familiar with the name Abby Choi, a model, influencer and socialite from Hong Kong. She was just in attendance at Paris Fashion Week and has appeared in magazines like L’Officiel Monaco. She has over 100,000 followers on Instagram and often posts photos of travel and fashion.

But Choi was reported missing last Wednesday, and her ex-husband (Alex Kwong) and his family members are now suspected of having a hand in killing her. They’ve been arrested by local police. The most recent reports say her former brother-in-law, Anthony Kwong, and his father have been charged with murder. Her former mother-in-law has been charged with perverting the course of justice.  Her ex was the last one arrested at a pier while trying to flee Hong Kong by water.

Choi was found deceased last Friday. In a gruesome tragedy, her body was discovered cut into pieces in a rental unit north of the city. In the same space, investigators found a meat slicer and an electric saw, which are suspected of having been used to dismember the victim. The investigation is ongoing, and they are still looking for other missing body parts. But this isn’t really a story of a jilted ex-lover. Apparently, Choi had good relations with the Kwong family and even supported her ex after their divorce. Police say her death probably has to do with a money dispute.

Choi’s family had already made a name for itself before Abby came along, wealthy from business dealings in mainland China. Choi was responsible for getting her former in-laws and their two children a luxury apartment and also helping her former brother-in-law (Anthony Kwong) buy a house. One potential motive is that Anthony Kwong wasn’t happy with how Choi was looking to sell an apartment in his name – one that she was reportedly paying for. He and Choi also had business dealings together and may have been having contractual disputes.

“We believe the victim and her ex-husband’s family had many financial disputes involving huge sums,” Superintendent Alan Chung told reporters. “Someone was dissatisfied with how the victim handled her assets.”

Choi had two children, a son and a daughter, who have now been put in the custody of Choi’s mother.

Editors correction: This article previously stated that the four suspects arrested were charged with murder. The former brother-in-law of Abby Choi, Anthony Kwong, and his father have been charged with murder, according to local broadcaster TVB, citing police. TVB also reported that Choi's former mother-in-law has been charged with perverting the course of justice. Choi's ex-husband has been arrested, but it's unclear on what charges as of now.