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B.C. model working in Shanghai found dead: friends
by Barry Artiste | July 8, 2008 at 08:16 am | 825 views | 17 comments
Opinion
Barry Artiste. Now Public Contributor (New NP Highlighter not working)
Troubling when a young woman wanting to break into modeling meets her demise, in what some say are many unanswered questions surrounding her murder. One thing that was a warning flag was her Chinese contract employer wanted her to table dance clothed for well heeled businessmen, in which this young woman took exception to and was in the process of getting a one way ticket home.
China is not alone as North America and many countries have unscrupulous so called modeling agencies in other countries which prey on the innocent, but at least she had to good sense to know to get out of a bad situation, though too late for her, hopefully not too late for many who are in similar straits.
Chinese police are investigating, calling this a homicide, and if anyone can find answers in a seedy underworld bordering on White Slavery, they certainly will get the answers, it all hedges if they will do anything about it. As the Bejiing Olympics is in the forefront, hopefully the Chinese Government looking at making a Positive World Opinion on safety for tourists especially women, may provide swift justice on those who took this young womans life.
One thing the RCMP and Chinese Police do not have is a World wide knowledge network, Now Public have that access and ability reaching the globe. If any Now Public Readers, Wranglers in Shanghai, China recognized or even know this young lady from their travels, either in markets, clubs, shops, coffee or tea houses and perhaps have some info they feel may be useful, perhaps a email to the RCMP would be a step in the right direction. http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/07/bc-model-killed-shanghai.html
B.C. model working in Shanghai found dead: friends
A young model from Saltspring Island, B.C., was found dead in Shanghai, China, her friends told CBC News on Monday.
Diana O'Brien, 23, had been in China since mid-June after landing a contract with a modelling agency in Shanghai.
RCMP confirmed Monday that they notified a Saltspring Island family of a death but refused to divulge any details or say whether the young woman was a victim of a homicide. Police said they are investigating her death.
"As of yet, the Chinese police are reluctant to divulge any information as it is an ongoing investigation and they must wait for results of an autopsy," Jesse Blanchette, one of O'Brien's friends, told CBC News.
Police in Shanghai had also started a murder investigation of their own but have not said how O'Brien was killed, her friends said.
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July 8, 2008 at 08:16 am by Barry Artiste, 825 views, 17 comments
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Barry Artiste
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Comments (17)
at 08:18 on July 8th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 08:20 on July 8th, 2008
Thanks Caoimhin, she is a native of our province, and like many wanting to make their mark in the news, this way is not one of them.
at 08:46 on July 8th, 2008
she is very nice!how is she?
at 09:17 on July 8th, 2008
She is dead.
at 09:18 on July 8th, 2008
Thanks for visiting Amir, unfortunately she was found murdered in China.
at 09:25 on July 8th, 2008
Very sad story. I'm sure members of the expatriate community in Shanghai will also be publicising this story to help find out exactly what happened to her. Keep us posted on for updates.
at 09:40 on July 8th, 2008
Will do,Thanks for visiting
at 13:31 on July 8th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:31 on July 8th, 2008
I am from B. C. and that is a very sad story.
at 13:48 on July 8th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 13:51 on July 8th, 2008
White slavery in China? How shocking! and they murdered her rather than let her escape? how seedy is that? Are any tourists safe in China? I think not. Police can get you if you inadvertately violate something.
at 14:02 on July 8th, 2008
Barry Artiste, what a sad story - she was so young too.
at 14:29 on July 8th, 2008
Although I am not keen on China, this is not limited to the Chinese and could have happened in far too many countries around the world.
at 17:42 on July 8th, 2008
Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff. Whe you go to China, a hair dresser can be a place to pick up a woman for sex. How do you ask for that at a hair dressor. I need my hair dressed as you get undressed?
This is the big lie, "I will make you a model". It is sad. It happens in LA all the time. You get 100 bucks for a shoot or 1000 bucks for some soft porn. Next you get more for more and more dangerious sex acts. When one tries to get away, the get killed.
There is a long list of unsolved deaths among folks who travel to China as models. I wouldn't trust the investegators over there as one of our investigative shows did a report on an unsolved death with cover up all along the way.
I am sad for the family.
at 18:28 on July 8th, 2008
Thanks everyone for your comments, it has been said this young woman was hired by a top and reputable chinese modeling agency, unfortunately it may well have been the clients she was sent to that were unsavoury. Until we get any more background info, it is just speculation. As I said, Now Public has far reaching members so let's hope some other expats or even models whose experience in China was negative may be able to shed light on this story. In the meantime the RCMP website posted is one place to relay any vital info. One would hope the Chinese government will find the guilty parties.
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Anonymous (not verified)at 11:17 on July 9th, 2008
This is such a tradgic story and as a model about to embark on a contract in Shanghai it is a pretty scary situation.
People have to stop blaming it on the fact she was in China though and realize this could have happend anywhere in the world.
at 17:38 on July 9th, 2008
It happens more in North America than we would like to know about! Thanks Anon for visiting and your comments