Missing ISU student Tong Shao.
Iowa City police says the body found in the trunk of a car at an apartment complex Friday has been positively identified at missing Iowa State University student Tong Shao. Ames police say Shao, who was 20-years-old, was last seen in Ames on September 6th. Shao is from China.
The Iowa City Police Department says it is treating the death of Shao as suspicious. The department is not releasing the cause of death pending the autopsy results. Police are seeking 23-year-old Xiangtan Li, a male Chinese student at the University of Iowa, as “person of interest in this matter as possibly having information regarding the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Shao.”
Iowa City police says Li is a known associate of Shao and is believed to have returned to China but are still awaiting official confirmation.
The Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of this suspect. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact CrimeStoppers at 358-TIPS (8477) or online at www.iccrimestoppers.org.
Iowa State University President Steven Leath issued this statement:
“We were saddened to learn just after 5 p.m. Monday that the body of a young woman found in Iowa City is that of Tong Shao, an Iowa State junior who was majoring in chemical engineering. Since she was reported missing, members of the Iowa State community had been concerned for her safety and well-being. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family and friends, both here and in China. She will be missed by all. We appreciate the hard work of the Ames, Iowa City and Iowa State University Police departments, as well as other law enforcement agencies, and understand that their investigation continues.”