A man in China whose wife killed herself and their two children after he allegedly faked his own death for an insurance payout has surrendered to police, authorities said.
The 34-year-old, identified only by his surname He, was presumed dead after a borrowed car was found in a river in September, though his body was never recovered. He did not tell his wife about his plan, and she believed he had died, police said.
Three weeks later, on 11 October, the bodies of his 31-year-old wife, their four-year-old son and three-year-old daughter were found in a pond near their home. The woman had posted a suicide note on social media platform WeChat before drowning herself and her children.
He turned himself in to police in Xinhua county, Hunan province, last Friday. He has been detained on charges of insurance fraud and intentional damage to property. Police said He had bought a one-million-yuan (£110,000) insurance policy in early September without his wife's knowledge, naming her as the beneficiary.
Public broadcaster Voice of China reported that He had loans of more than 100,000 yuan. He had previously posted a crying video online, claiming he borrowed money for his daughter's epilepsy treatment. The case has sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media about financial pressures and family issues, with many users calling his apology insincere.
