Utah police have disclosed the discovery of a teenage Chinese exchange student, Kai Zhuang, who was found alone and cold in a tent after becoming a victim of what authorities are terming a "cyber-kidnapping."
The Riverdale Police Department revealed that the 17-year-old was reported missing by his high school on Thursday. Following his disappearance, Zhuang's parents in China contacted the school after receiving a ransom photo of their son, subsequently sending $80,000 to bank accounts in China "due to continuous threats from the kidnappers," as per a press release issued on Sunday.
Utilizing Zhuang's bank and phone records, the police located him on Sunday at a makeshift campsite in the mountains near Brigham City. The release stated that he was found "alive but very cold and scared," having followed instructions from his cyber-kidnappers to isolate himself.
According to the release, Zhuang had no heat source inside the tent, only possessing a heat blanket, a sleeping bag, limited food and water, and several phones presumed to be used for the cyber-kidnapping.
Upon encountering the police, Zhuang expressed relief, and the release noted that the Brigham City Fire Department checked him for cold-related issues. He was cleared of major medical concerns and provided with a cheeseburger at his request.
Zhuang, concerned for his family's safety, requested to speak with them, and the police assisted him in doing so, as outlined in the release.
The release also revealed that over a week before being reported missing, police in Provo had encountered Zhuang on December 20 while he was attempting to camp. Although they were concerned for his safety, he was returned to Riverdale, and his host family was contacted.
Riverdale Police disclosed on Sunday that Zhuang was already being "manipulated and controlled by the cyber kidnappers" at that time but had not confided in anyone.
On Thursday, police visited his host home, where the host family claimed to be unaware of Zhuang's disappearance. They stated that he was at home the previous night, and there was no evidence of forceful abduction from the residence.
Working with the FBI, the US embassy in China, and Chinese officials, Riverdale police were able to locate Zhuang. The FBI informed them that other foreign exchange students, particularly Chinese, have fallen victim to similar "cyber-kidnapping" scams in the US. These perpetrators threaten students, instruct them to isolate, monitor them through video calls, and demand ransom from their families.
