Woman found dead faced financial pressure
An Auckland businesswoman whose body was found in the boot of her car was facing financial difficulties before her death.
Elizabeth (Ying) Zhong, 55, was reported missing on Saturday morning and police later confirmed they had found a body nearby.
Stuff understands Zhong was subjected to a brutal attack before she died, and Detective Inspector Shaun Vickers confirmed police were treating her death as a suspected homicide.
Her body was found in the boot of her car 700 metres away from her $2 million home in Suzetta Pl, Sunnyhills, on Saturday morning. The cause of her death has not yet been determined.
Vickers said an autopsy was completed yesterday but police were continuing to work through formal identification processes.
Zhong was the sole director and shareholder of an Epsom-based visual effects company, Digipost Entertainment Ltd.
The Owens Rd building was sold at a mortgagee sale to Steve Wright, who told Stuff yesterday that he was ‘‘devastated’’ to hear about Zhong’s death.
Wright said Zhong was facing a lot of financial pressures and she owed him a small amount of money. ‘‘But it was nothing that I couldn’t forgive,’’ he said.
‘‘She was honourable and trying to do the best she could.’’
Zhong was also the sole director and shareholder of wine-making companies Kennedy Point Group Ltd and Carrick Wines Ltd, both of which are in receivership.
Carrick Winery manager Cliff Wickman described Zhong as a ‘‘lovely lady who gave great hugs’’.
BDO’s Andrew Bethell, who is processing Carrick’s receivership, said he was ‘‘pretty shocked’’.
Police and forensics officers remained at Zhong’s house yesterday, where a bunch of white roses was placed at a cordon.
Vickers said the scene examination was expected to take some time, and video surveillance footage was also being examined.