Authorities in Selangor discovered a decomposed body in a river on December 29, 2024, believed to be that of Yap Xin Yuan, a 15-year-old Malaysian girl who had been missing for 10 days. The unsettling discovery has now escalated the case to a suspected murder investigation.
Missing Teen’s Final Days
Yap was last seen on December 19, 2024, when she informed her family she was heading to a lion dance practice. Her father dropped her off at the lion dance center that morning, but she failed to return home later that evening. Concern grew when Yap’s phone was found to be unreachable, and the center she mentioned visiting was closed for the day as the person-in-charge was reportedly overseas.
The family, unable to reach Yap’s 16-year-old boyfriend through Instagram, resorted to social media for help and filed a police report.
Boyfriend’s Initial Denial
Days after Yap was reported missing, her boyfriend came forward but denied any involvement in her disappearance. He claimed that Yap had visited his home on the morning of December 19 but left later that day via a private hire vehicle after the two had an argument. However, inconsistencies between his statement and CCTV footage raised suspicions. Evidence revealed that Yap arrived at his home at a time that contradicted his account, and a private hire company confirmed she had taken only one ride that day.
Discovery of a Body
Acting on a tip-off, Malaysian police found a body in a river near Banting. While the body was severely decomposed, several details—such as its height, braces, and clothing—matched Yap’s description. A DNA test was ordered to confirm the identity, with results expected in early January 2025. Meanwhile, police arrested Yap’s boyfriend, along with his 20-year-old brother and 51-year-old father, for their suspected involvement in the case.
A Grim Confession
On December 31, media reports surfaced indicating that the boyfriend had confessed to dumping Yap’s body in the river. According to sources, the boyfriend admitted that he and Yap had consumed drinks laced with drugs on the day of her disappearance. He alleged that Yap died unexpectedly, prompting him to seek his family’s help in disposing of her body. Together, they reportedly decided to discard the body in Sungai Changgang.
Family’s Struggle to Cope
Yap’s family initially held onto hope that the body found was not their daughter, with her mother expressing disbelief and clinging to the possibility of Yap being alive. However, her father, in a tearful statement, said he had come to terms with the loss and was awaiting DNA confirmation to retrieve her body.
As investigations continue, the tragic case has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the importance of thorough inquiries and the need for justice in such devastating circumstances.