A Chinese influencer with more than a million followers who disappeared three years ago has reportedly been confirmed dead, after allegedly being lured to the Philippines by a close friend.
The influencer, known online as “Athena” and reportedly named Kong Limei, disappeared after travelling to Manila in June 2023. Recent developments in the case have reportedly led authorities to believe that she was abducted by a transnational criminal group and later killed.
Kong was also a third-place finalist in the 2021 Miss World Macau pageant and had built a substantial following online.
Friend allegedly convinced influencer to travel to Manila
According to reports from Chinese media, Kong was allegedly persuaded to travel to the Philippines by a female friend identified as Li Yifei.
Li reportedly told Kong that she was going through a difficult period following a breakup and invited her to Manila to take a break. She allegedly promised to arrange a luxury hotel stay and locations for photo shoots.
Kong eventually travelled to Manila in June 2023.
However, reports claim that Li cancelled her own flight shortly before the trip while allegedly providing Kong’s flight details to people linked to a criminal group in the Philippines.
After Kong arrived, she reportedly lost contact with her family and friends.
Her social media accounts were also allegedly cleared of existing content, while the criminal group reportedly used her accounts to create misleading posts about her whereabouts.
Family allegedly asked to pay huge ransom
Kong’s family reportedly began searching for her after she failed to return or maintain contact.
According to reports, people allegedly controlling her social media accounts attempted to convince her family that she had accumulated a huge gambling debt.
The family was reportedly asked to pay a ransom of up to US$800,000, equivalent to around S$1.03 million.
At the same time, various rumours about Kong’s whereabouts began circulating online.
Some posts allegedly claimed that she had been taken to Cambodia and forced into illegal activities, while other versions of the story suggested that she had been trafficked elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
These claims reportedly made it difficult for investigators and her family to determine what had actually happened.
Suspected ringleader’s return to China brings new development
A major development reportedly took place on July 20, 2026, when suspected transnational kidnapping group ringleader Liu Hanwen was deported from the United States to China.
Following his return, investigators reportedly obtained information that helped establish that Kong had been killed after her abduction.
Reports have described Liu as a key figure in a wider criminal operation allegedly targeting victims in Southeast Asia.
Another woman allegedly involved in luring victims, identified as Li Na, whose real name was reportedly Chen Yuxuan, was arrested in South Korea in September 2024.
Another alleged accomplice remains at large
Li Yifei, the woman accused in reports of being involved in bringing Kong to the Philippines, has reportedly not been arrested.
Authorities will ultimately have to determine the extent of her involvement and whether the allegations against her can be substantiated through the judicial process.
The case has attracted renewed attention because of the latest development involving Liu’s deportation, after Kong’s disappearance remained unresolved for more than three years.
While reports now claim that Kong was killed, some details surrounding her alleged abduction and death have yet to be publicly established in full.
The investigation is expected to continue as authorities work to identify everyone involved and establish the complete chain of events leading to Kong’s disappearance.