Woman allegedly hacked to death with around 40 knife wounds by father-in-law while collecting daughter in Taiwan

A 34-year-old woman was allegedly hacked to death by her father-in-law after an argument broke out while she was collecting her young daughter from her in-laws’ home in Taiwan.

The horrific incident took place on the evening of Jul. 26 in New Taipei City, where police said the victim suffered dozens of knife wounds to her head and neck.

According to Taiwanese media reports, the woman had gone to her husband’s family home after work to pick up her four-year-old daughter.

However, while in the stairwell of the residential building, she allegedly became involved in an argument with her 66-year-old father-in-law.

Authorities said the elderly man then allegedly grabbed a 20cm sashimi knife and repeatedly attacked her, inflicting around 40 stab and slash wounds to her neck and upper body. She died at the scene from the severe injuries.

Suspect allegedly tried to mislead police

When officers arrived, the suspect allegedly claimed he had witnessed his daughter-in-law fighting with an unknown man and that he had intervened to help her, which was why blood was found on his clothing.

Investigators quickly found inconsistencies in his account, and the man was subsequently arrested.

Police later applied to have him remanded on suspicion of murder and desecration of a corpse. A New Taipei court has since approved his detention while investigations continue.

A preliminary forensic examination found the victim’s fatal injury was a 15cm wound to the neck near her collarbone.

Friend alleges years of family conflict

A woman claiming to be the victim’s close friend told local media that the victim had endured years of hardship within the family.

She alleged that the victim’s husband had repeatedly been unfaithful, while the father-in-law, who was unemployed, frequently demanded money from her.

The friend also claimed the father-in-law regularly accused the victim of having affairs whenever she returned home late from work, verbally abused her and even turned up at her workplace to confront her.

She further alleged that he smoked heavily at home and refused to clean up rubbish around the house, creating an unhealthy living environment.

The victim had previously described herself on social media as a single mother working shifts at a convenience store while also running an online business in her spare time to provide a better life for her daughter.

In one post, she wrote: “Sometimes we seem strong only because life doesn’t allow us to be weak.”

Daughter did not witness attack

Reports said the couple had not legally divorced despite living separately.

A lawyer interviewed by local media noted that under current inheritance laws, the victim’s estranged husband could still inherit her assets because they remained legally married.

The couple’s four-year-old daughter was reportedly not present during the fatal attack and is now being cared for by the victim’s parents.

Police investigations into the case are ongoing.