What was supposed to be the beginning of the story became the end
No one could have imagined that a romantic transnational online dating would end up with such a result.
A Chinese woman suddenly disappeared after flying from China to Los Angeles with thousands of knives to meet a male netizen and her body was later found in a desert area.
For a while, rumors spread and opinions differed, and everyone speculated that the Chinese woman was deceived by this male netizen, and finally suffered a mishap.
However, just today, the police released the woman's death certificate, and the cause of death surprised everyone: she actually died of heat because of the failure of the expedition!
However, the matter did not end like this, a person familiar with the matter revealed that the police have not completely figured out the whole case, and there are still many suspicious points in the case.
Let's comb through the case from the beginning.
On July 14, 2023, Fang Jin, a 47-year-old Chinese woman from Guangdong, China, flew to Los Angeles, USA, to appear as a netizen - former American Navy SEAL and 52-year-old male netizen John Fitzpatrick. The two met online and chatted for months.
Jin Fang, before stepping on the flight to the United States, was full of anticipation and excitement for the unknown. She had planned to go on an adventure with Fitzpatrick, whom she met online. However, this journey eventually became the end of her life.
On July 22, according to Jin Fang's last contact with friends, she had planned to camp at a location in the Molonggo Basin, but soon there was no news, and the two suddenly disappeared, no one could contact her, and everyone was anxiously waiting for news from her.
Unfortunately, in early October, the sheriff of San Bernardine County, California, confirmed that John's body was found in Anza Poligo State Park, northeast of San Diego.
On Oct. 28, police found Jinfang's body in the Anza Borrego Desert, less than three miles from Fitzpatrick's.
Jinfang's body was found in the lower reaches of Harper Canyon. Although the police have not released the exact cause of death, the family has been informed that the two may have died of heat stroke.
Now that the cause of Jin Fang's death was announced, it immediately aroused public questions. Although the police have not identified other suspects, the case remains fraught with suspicions.
Fitzpatrick, a former member of the Special Forces who should be able to handle the harsh environment in stride, why would such an experienced retired soldier die in a simple expedition?
What's even more puzzling is why the pair went to the desert in the sweltering heat without carrying enough survival equipment, including water and first aid tools.
During that time, temperatures in the Anzaborego Desert reached 106°F to 117°F (about 41°C-47°C), making such extreme conditions a huge challenge for anyone.
And Jin Fang, as a tourist from China, decided to go alone to meet someone she only met online, which in itself was a huge adventure.
Jin Fang's life was quite varied: she had two daughters, one in college and the other only seven years old. She came to Southern California from China to explore the beauty of the region, such as Joshua Tree National Park, with Fitzpatrick.
Jin Fang's daughter said in an interview that her mother likes to travel very much on weekdays, has traveled all over the world, and has known John online for about half a year, and has heard her mother mention him before.
Jin Fang entered the United States on a tourist visa, bought a round-trip ticket, and went through the procedures such as a visa to the United States.
Although the conversation was very enjoyable online, Jin Fang did as much as she could to investigate the identity of the other party before finally deciding to meet the netizens, and even bought a background report to verify John's identity, military service and employment records, knowing that he was a military veteran living in San Bernardino, Southern California.
John, a retired Navy SEAL with a criminal record and a suspended sentence for assault misdemeanors, said insiders had been traumatized, but that information was found after Ms. Jin's disappearance.
Jin Fang and John's relationship is still developing, and this trip should have been the beginning of their story, but no one expected it, but it unexpectedly became the end.
Hopefully both will rest in peace.