Missing Asley Zhao

 In Canton, the elder sibling of the deceased 5-year-old girl discovered lifeless in a Jackson Township eatery shall continue under foster care whilst a county agency assesses the feasibility of placing her with kin.

This determination transpired during an emergency custody hearing on Thursday at the Stark County Family Court. The preceding day, the hearing was adjourned due to an issue involving an interpreter for Mingming (alternatively listed as Ming Ming in court records) Chen, aged 29, who stands accused of murder in the tragic demise of her 5-year-old daughter Ashley Zhao. The child's father, Liang Zhao, aged 34, faces charges of complicity to murder. Both parents, detained on a bond of $5 million, also face charges of felonious assault.

The interpreter who appeared in court on Wednesday lacked certification from the Ohio Supreme Court. Nonetheless, proceedings proceeded on Thursday before Family Court Judge David Nist, who decreed that the 6-year-old sibling would remain in the temporary custody of Stark County Job and Family Services. Jerry Coleman, assistant deputy director of legal services for Job and Family Services, stated that the agency continues to explore potential placement avenues with the girl's relatives. Comprehensive background checks and evaluations will ensue, he confirmed. Coleman clarified that Job and Family Services had no prior involvement with Ashley's family.

According to allegations from Jackson Township police, Chen administered multiple blows to Ashley's head, and when Zhao discovered the child on the floor, he endeavored, albeit unsuccessfully, to resuscitate her after an attempt to cleanse her. Authorities assert that the couple concealed the body within Ang's Asian Cuisine restaurant at 4924 Portage St. NW.

The child was reported missing around 9:30 p.m. on Monday from a rear room at the restaurant. Investigators were informed that the child had retired to the back room for a nap around 4:30 p.m., and when Chen checked on her at approximately 9 p.m., she had vanished.

The search persisted, aided by other law enforcement agencies, throughout the night and into the ensuing day until Ashley's remains were discovered on Tuesday afternoon within the premises of the restaurant. Ashley's parents were subsequently apprehended and charged in connection to her demise that very night.

Following Thursday's hearing, relatives of Liang Zhao congregated outside the courtroom, engaging in discussions pertaining to the case with his legal representative, Jacob Will. Chen is being represented by an attorney from the Stark County Public Defender's Office.

The father holds U.S. citizenship by naturalization, whereas the mother does not, as per authorities. Both parents originate from China.According to records from the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Chen's appeal in 2012 to avoid deportation proved unsuccessful. A law firm based in New York City represented Chen in this endeavor. She petitioned the Sixth Circuit to review the decision of the Board of Immigration Appeals, which had upheld an immigration judge's ruling.

Per the appellate court's ruling:

In 2009, Chen had sought asylum on grounds of her religious beliefs, political opinions, and affiliation with a specific social circle, contending that she was a practitioner of Falun Gonga spiritual practice in China—and had endured persecution from the Chinese authorities. Nonetheless, an immigration judge found her testimony lacking credibility, citing disparities between her oral accounts, written submissions, and supporting evidence.

Chen asserted that subsequent to fleeing China, her brother was detained due to her association with Falun Gong, and authorities indicated his release contingent upon her return. However, in her asylum application, she omitted any mention of her brother's arrest or her familial ties with him, despite the application explicitly soliciting such information. Furthermore, court records reveal inconsistencies in Chen's account regarding her mother's visit during her detainment in an educational facility for one month. Discrepancies also surfaced concerning Chen's purported indebtedness to her aunt in the sum of $20,000, purportedly to repay a smuggler who facilitated her entry into the United States.

The immigration judge deemed Chen's attempts to elucidate these inconsistencies inadequate. The Board of Immigration Appeals concurred, concluding that Chen failed to substantiate her credibility with reasonably obtainable corroborating evidence.

Chen exhausted her appeals in this matter and apparently defied the immigration judge's directive to return to China.