A man, aged 27, was brutally murdered with 30 nails driven into his skull in a gruesome crime that remains unsolved. The victim, identified as Chen Liu, also known as Anthony, was discovered by two children, aged nine and 14, while they were canoeing down Georges river in south Sydney in 2008. The children came across the badly decomposed body wrapped in a rug and quickly sought help from their parents.
Authorities released an x-ray of the victim’s skull showing the nails, up to 3.3 inches in length, that were fired into his head and neck using a high-powered nail gun. Chen had been deceased for 12 days when found, bound with electrical wires and an extension cord, and rolled in a rug tightly secured with wires.
Geoff Beresford, the head of the homicide squad, described the murder as particularly brutal and vicious, unprecedented in his 36 years of investigation. The investigation revealed that Chen was likely killed before being transported to the river in his 2005 Range Rover Sport 4WD. Despite extensive efforts, no arrests have been made, and the murder weapon remains missing.
Prior to the discovery of Chen’s body by the children, a male friend had reported him missing two weeks earlier. Police disclosed that 34 nails had been fired into Chen’s head at close range using an 85mm nail gun. Authorities also mentioned that there were attempts to weigh down the body, leading to its discovery on the river bank due to natural forces.
Investigators looked into Chen’s associates but found no evidence linking them to any criminal organization. Chen had arrived in Melbourne on a student visa from China in the early 2000s before relocating to Sydney, where he had a brief marriage that ended in separation, according to police records.
Speculation from a Reddit user suggested that the killer may have had some construction knowledge, as the murder weapon appeared to be a construction tool. The user theorized that the killer acted impulsively and aggressively, possibly using readily available construction materials to wrap the victim’s body.
The investigation continues, with authorities urging the public to provide any information that could help solve the case.
