Mother disagrees with police that son killed self

The mother of a 30-year-old Chinese man who was found dead on the terrace of the second floor of the 18-story Grandvrio Resort in Garapan last June disagrees with the police’s findings that her son killed himself.

Lian Ping Yu, 59, an engineer, stated that based on the information she gathered, her son, Wan-xu Jiang, may have accidentally fallen from the balcony of his room on the 18th or 19th floor of the hotel.

The Department of Public Safety had said that police investigation showed that Jiang’s death was a suicide. No other details were provided.

Police responded to Grandvrio Resort on June 12 at 6:26am after receiving a report about a possible dead person. Police met with witnesses and the hotel’s staff who came across the victim, who was found on the terrace of the second floor.

The victim had no pulse and was not breathing. He was later pronounced dead at the Commonwealth Health Center.

In an interview yesterday, Yu, through an interpreter, said her son died last June 12, but that the Chinese Embassy in Los Angeles only informed her about his death last Sept. 18.

Yu said she got worried last July when she called her son’s cell phone and it just kept ringing. She then started inquiring about her son’s whereabouts.

Yu arrived on Saipan last Oct. 6 accompanied by Jiang’s godfather, Wen Dong Li, 62, also an engineer. The two are set to return to Dalian Province on Oct. 22. It’s their first time to visit Saipan.

Yu believes that prior to her son’s death, he had visitors because police found a half-filled whiskey bottle and cigarette butts in his room. She said her son, a computer IT, does not drink or smoke.

The mother noted that her son had no financial problem, no family, and did not gamble.

She said a day before Jiang was found dead, he even sent her some photos, which showed him smiling and preparing to eat two huge lobsters at a restaurant in Garapan.

Yu also disclosed that she learned from a bank in China that Jiang withdrew money worth $50,000 a few days before coming to Saipan.

Yu believes that Jiang still had a large amount of cash in his possession when he died. She said she is waiting until now for the police to turn over her son’s valuables.

Yu also expressed a desire to visit her son’s hotel room.

Yu has decided to bury her son’s body at the Tanapag Cemetery tomorrow, Friday, rather than cremating it because her son was a Christian.

Local businessman Ta Bun Kuy, who is a former president of the Chinese Association of Saipan, and another Chinese businessman are helping Yu arrange for Jiang’s burial.

Showing Jiang’s photo and a news article in a newspaper in China, Yu said her son joined the Chinese army but was discharged after sustaining some injuries during an exercise.

Yu also showed another photo of Jiang and a news article in a newspaper in China about him witnessing a robbery in progress at a store and chasing the suspect last year. Jiang subsequently arrested the suspect and recovered the stolen 20,000 in Chinese money. The Chinese government later presented Jiang with an award for his heroic deed.

Yu said it was interesting news in China because most people would just turn away or remain quiet if they witness a crime.

Jiang came alone to Saipan last May 22.

She said it was her son’s first visit to the island, but police told her that it was his second visit.

She said her son, who is independent-minded, wanted to stay on Saipan, study U.S. law, and learn how to speak English.

Yu is also confused because someone deposited $7.40 in her son’s bank account last August.

Yu said it was only last Sept. 18 when the Chinese Embassy in Los Angeles called her about her son’s death due to a fall from his hotel room.

“It’s impossible,” Yu said, referring to the police’s finding of suicide. She noted that there was no suicide note and she could not think of any reason for her son to end his life.