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Li Haiyu, now 47, stood in the courtroom, her shaved head glinting under the light. In her hands, she carried a photo of her late father, the man who had ignited her lifelong quest for justice. As she faced the man accused of killing her brother 32 years ago, she vowed that he would remember her face - the face of the woman who brought him to trial.
The Beginning of a Nightmare
In 1992, tragedy struck the Li family. At just 9 years old, Li Haiyu’s younger brother, Li Huanping, vanished after being lured away from school. The man responsible, Yi Genghua (formerly Yi Changqing), was a laborer who had worked in the family’s orchard. Motivated by a financial dispute with the children's father, Yi abducted the boy and brutally killed him in a nearby sugarcane field.
At the time, Li’s father, Li Zhongxiang, chose to shield his 15-year-old daughter from the devastating truth, telling her that her brother had been kidnapped and sold. For the next 17 years, Li Haiyu wandered across provinces - including Zhejiang, Yunnan, and Sichuan - working menial jobs while searching for her missing brother. She endured betrayal, was swindled out of her savings, and even became a victim of human trafficking.
Yi Genghua
It was only in 2014, upon her father’s passing, that she discovered the truth through a letter he left behind. Her brother had been murdered, and her father had spent the rest of his life trying to track down the killer. His final wish? For her to bring Yi to justice.
Years of Subterfuge and Determination
Li Haiyu rededicated herself to the quest for justice. After learning that Yi had changed his name and gone into hiding, she employed extraordinary tactics to track him down.
For years, she camped near Yi’s family home, hiding in the woods, braving harsh winters, and subsisting on meager supplies. Her patience eventually paid off when she spotted him. Pretending to be a worker’s wife, she gained access to his social circle, collected information, and even initiated contact online.
What followed was a grueling three-year-long “relationship” during which Yi, unaware of her true identity, subjected her to constant harassment. Despite the psychological toll, Li endured it all, driven by her mission. Her breakthrough came when Yi unwittingly revealed his original name during a conversation. Armed with this evidence, Li handed over the information to the authorities.
A Long-Delayed Arrest
In May 2020, Yi was arrested after nearly three decades on the run. During interrogation, he confessed to the murder, recounting how he had lured Li’s brother to the sugarcane field and stabbed him to death.
But the case was far from over. Crucial evidence, such as the victim’s remains, was missing, as was DNA analysis from the early 1990s. The local prosecution deemed the evidence insufficient, and Yi was released after just six months in detention.
Adding insult to injury, Yi allegedly threatened Li, saying, “If I could kill your brother, I can kill you too.”
Renewed Legal Efforts
Li refused to give up. She tirelessly appealed the decision, urging investigators to locate her brother’s remains and secure new evidence. Finally, in 2022, additional testimony and corroborative details allowed prosecutors to reopen the case.
On November 1, 2024, Yi faced trial in Guangdong’s Zhanjiang Intermediate People’s Court. The prosecution, citing his heinous actions, sought the death penalty. The verdict is still pending, but for Li, this is a crucial step toward closure.
A Life Sacrificed to Justice
Li Haiyu’s journey has come at a great personal cost. She left school at 15, divorced after her obsessive quest strained her marriage, and spent her prime years wandering, scheming, and surviving. Now middle-aged and weathered by hardship, she has no regrets.
“When my brother was taken, my life froze in that moment,” she said. “Until justice is served, I cannot move on.”
Public Reaction
Li’s story has struck a chord with netizens across China. Many hailed her determination as “superhuman,” while others expressed sorrow over the toll it took on her life.
One commenter wrote, “This sister’s perseverance brought me to tears. Her brother must be watching over her, proud of her courage.” Another lamented, “A murderer like Yi doesn’t deserve a second chance. The law must bring him to justice.”
Others called for a film adaptation of her story, saying, “Her life is more thrilling than any movie.”
Despite the admiration, some netizens questioned why it took so long for authorities to act decisively. “Why must ordinary citizens like Li bear the burden of justice?” one user asked.
Awaiting the Verdict
As the court deliberates, Li remains determined to see her brother’s killer held accountable. For her, the journey has never been solely about vengeance but about fulfilling a promise - to her brother and to her father.
On the eve of the trial, she visited the sugarcane field where her brother’s body was discovered decades ago. Kneeling in the dirt, she called out, “Brother, I’ve come to take you home.”
Source: Jimu News
