Jieming Liu

Case record: Jieming Liu

Background

Jieming Liu was a 79-year-old man from Shrewsbury. His wife, Yuee Zhou, was 73 years old. Their son told investigators he suspected Liu was suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and Liu’s attorney said Liu likely suffered from Alzheimer’s or dementia. Their son also said he checked on them every day and said he brought them to the United States so they could receive better care. The couple’s son said the couple arrived from China in November, and that they had moved to Shrewsbury last year from China’s Hunan Province. The couple’s son said they also had a daughter in San Francisco.

The offence

Jieming Liu was charged with the murder of Yuee Zhou. Police found Liu in a rocking chair covered in blood on his mouth, hands, and face after his wife’s blood-soaked body was found on a bedroom floor. The wife was found with her left arm severed and her left forearm missing flesh, with some of her fingers detached. Worcester County prosecutor Michael McHugh said the wife’s blood-soaked body was found on a bedroom floor with flesh missing from her left forearm and that some of her fingers were detached from her hand. Another account said flesh was missing from her left forearm and that some of her fingers were detached from her hand. Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early told reporters: “It was a very gruesome scene.” Joseph D. Early Jr. also described the scene as “a very gruesome scene. A very tough scene” and “it’s a very disturbing scene,” and Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early said that Zhou was missing most of the flesh on her badly-mutilated left arm. Jieming Liu told Shrewsbury police that he acted in self-defense. According to a prosecutor, Liu told the court that he acted in self-defense.

Investigation

During the investigation, officers were notified around 4:30pm Thursday that a woman was not breathing. When officers arrived, they found Liu drenched in blood and surrounded by pieces of his wife’s flesh. Court records state he kept telling his son, “This is not your mother,” in Mandarin Chinese. Another account described that Liu kept repeating, “This is not your mother.” Officers found Liu covered in blood, and Zhou’s left arm served and partially gnawed was described as part of the condition of the body.

A murder weapon was not found. After Liu’s arrest, an autopsy on Zhou was planned to determine her cause of death, but it was not clear whether the exam had been completed or would proceed.

Arrest and court proceedings

Liu appeared disoriented during his arraignment. He appeared confused and was described as in “befuddled” and in “pathetic” mental and physical condition by his attorney, Michael Hussey. During arraignment, Liu was wearing a white jumpsuit with no shoes. At one arraignment in Westborough District Court, Liu was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial.

Worcester County prosecutor Michael McHugh said the couple’s son called police to the apartment on Thursday night. Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early told reporters: “It was a very gruesome scene.” Liu was charged with murder at his arraignment and was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation. Liu told police that he acted in self-defense.

Liu pleaded not guilty at an arraignment. Assistant District Attorney Michael D. McHugh told the court that police were notified around 4:30pm Thursday that a woman was not breathing. McHugh said officers found Liu in a rocking chair with blood on his mouth, hands, and face, and that his wife’s blood-soaked body was found with flesh missing from her left forearm. McHugh also said: “He may have been eating her flesh.” Worcester District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. said that Zhou was missing most of the flesh on her badly-mutilated left arm. In court, an account described: “Mr McHugh told the court: 'He may have been eating her flesh.'”

At an arraignment, Liu’s attorney, Michael Hussey, told the court that Liu may have been suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. Hussey said: ‘Mr Liu doesn’t seem to have any recognition for what is going on here. He’s completely befuddled, I don’t even think that he has a good understanding that police brought him here and for what reason.’

Liu was next due in court May 14th.

Sentencing

No sentencing was reported.

Appeals

No appeals were reported.

Outcome

Jieming Liu died of natural causes in a secure section of Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Boston on May 4, 2012.

Aftermath

The sheriff’s office had decided to post its own guard at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital around the clock as an extra precaution, and it was noted that Shattuck had its own security. Liu had been transferred from Bridgewater State Hospital after staff there determined that Liu’s medical needs were beyond their capacity. Additional information about Liu’s health was not immediately available. A supervisor at Shattuck declined comment.

Timeline

• May 4, 2012 — Jieming Liu died of natural causes in a secure section of Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Boston.
• May 5, 2012 — A representative of the Worcester County sheriff’s office said Liu died in the secure section of Lemuel Shattuck Hospital.
• May 14th — Liu was next due in court.
• April 8, 2012 — An Associated Press report described Liu as accused of killing his wife, eating some of her flesh, and being found sitting in a rocking chair covered in blood.
• April 7, 2012 — An account described Liu pleaded not guilty and made self-defense claims; it stated the couple had moved to Shrewsbury last year and included details of Liu’s appearance and police findings.
• April 6, 2012 — A caption described Liu appearing for arraignment in Westborough, Massachusetts, District Court facing a murder charge.
• April 5, 2012 — Liu’s wife, 73-year-old Yuee Zhou, was found face-down at home in a pool of blood, and officers found Liu covered in blood with Zhou’s left arm severed and partially gnawed.
• November — The couple’s son told police the parents arrived from China in November.
• Last year — The couple moved to Shrewsbury last year from China’s Hunan Province.

Other details

Liu was described as “5ft2 and 75 pounds” by his son in connection with the police findings. An account described that officers found Liu “surrounded by pieces of his wife’s flesh.” Liu was wearing a white jumpsuit during an appearance and appeared without shoes. The autopsy was planned after Liu’s arrest but it was not clear whether the exam had been completed or would proceed.