Sophie Wang: Grief-stricken community rallies to support father of young girl allegedly murdered by her own mother – after he was the first to discover the 10-year-old’s body
Friends and the community have stepped up to support the father of a young girl believed to have been murdered by her own mother on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Sophie Wang, 10, was pronounced dead by paramedics at her Emerald Lakes home near Carrara around 6 p.m. on Aug. 13 after being found by her father, Yun Wang.
The Emmanuel College student’s mother, Yingying Xu, 46, has since been charged with the murder and remains in custody until she is released on bail.
The alleged brutal murder shocked the close-knit community of Emmanuel College, which has since GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the girl’s father.
Organiser F Sheldon described Sophie as a kind and ‘devoted sweetheart at home’, while at school she was known for her compassion and ‘cheerful spirit’.
“Sophie had a deep love of reading, music and all things Harry Potter. Tragically, our beloved little angel Sophie has been taken from us,” the organizer wrote.
Her death has left her family broken and devastated, and her loss is deeply felt by her friends, colleagues, and the entire community.
“As Sophie’s family goes through this incredibly difficult time, we invite you to join us in contributing to a fund that will support them in whatever way you can during this time.”
Sophie Wang, 10, a student at Emmanuel College, was pronounced dead by paramedics at her Emerald Lakes home in Carrara shortly after 6 p.m. on August 13.
Yingying Xu, 46, has since been charged with Sophie’s murder and remains in custody. Police allege that Ms Xu slit her daughter’s throat before fleeing the house
Hundreds of people gathered last week for a candlelight vigil for Sophie at the Emerald Lakes main fountain
The campaign has raised nearly $8,000 so far as of Saturday evening, surpassing its $20,000 goal. Individual donations range from $50 to as much as $1,000.
The funds will give Sophie’s family “the space to grieve, heal and rebuild their lives, without the immediate pressure of financial burdens.”
The alleged murder of the child sent shockwaves through the otherwise quiet Gold Coast town, with Acting Detective Constable Kent Ellis describing the scene as “extremely confronting” for emergency services.
Police allege that Ms Xu slit her daughter’s throat before fleeing the house. She was later arrested by police on a nearby street more than four hours later.
The campaign comes just over a week after hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil for Sophie at the Emerald Lakes main fountain, which also included a minute’s silence.