In 1998, at the age of 22, Chen was sentenced to death for allegedly murdering the wife of a village official.
At the time, he was a young entrepreneur planning to open a furniture factory. Police suspected his motive was financial. Despite maintaining his innocence, Chen was convicted of murder and robbery.
In the first two trials, the 22-year-old was sentenced to death, but he appealed. In the third trial, the sentence was reduced to life imprisonment.
For the next 8 years, Chen's elderly mother traveled extensively, appealing for her son's release. Chen himself also continued to appeal.
In 2006, a provincial court agreed to review the case. The reinvestigation acknowledged Chen had an alibi, his clothes had no bloodstains, and the murder weapon was never found.
He was acquitted and released after 8 years of wrongful imprisonment.
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Chen at 22 (left) and now. Photo: Sohu |
Chen at 22 (left) and now. Photo: Sohu
Chen received 197,000 CNY in compensation. Although exonerated, he still found it "difficult to live like a normal person". "People still looked at me with suspicion. I had to work twice, three times as hard to prove I was a good person," he said.
In 2019, Chen officially returned to business. He invented a smart toilet, won several design awards in China, and established his own manufacturing company. His product sells well in major cities, bringing him substantial income and a comfortable life.
However, Chen says he cannot rest easy. In early 2025, he decided to offer a 500,000 CNY reward for information leading to the arrest of the real perpetrator of the crime.
"I'm doing this not just for myself, but also for the woman who was killed. She also deserves to know who took her life," he said.
In early June, a criminal psychologist who has participated in solving over 300 cases volunteered to join the investigation. This person uses the pseudonym Li Jianming and insists on not accepting the reward.
Shandong police say the case is still under reinvestigation. Chen doesn't have high expectations. But he says he won't stop until the truth is revealed.
"I survived prison. Now, I want to live a worthy life," he said.
Nhat Minh (Sohu/SCMP)
