Chengdu Apartment Roof Grave Turns Out to Be Hoax, Police Confirm Animal Bones
SingTao · 3 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
A Chengdu woman made a disturbing discovery on October 4 when a neighbor informed her that what appeared to be a grave had been sitting on the rooftop directly above her living room for years. The grave allegedly contained the remains of a 7-year-old boy who died in September 2009. After Ms. Li reported the matter to police, officers excavated the site and removed the remains for analysis. However, the Jintang County Public Security Bureau announced on October 8 that the bones were not human—they were pig bones and fish bones. Police determined that a 73-year-old male resident had fabricated the entire story, and he received an administrative penalty for the false report.
Key Points
- Ms. Li purchased the 7th-floor top-floor unit in Jintang County, Chengdu in 2017 and had rented it out continuously for over 8 years
- On October 4, a neighbor told her that a simple grave made of construction waste sat directly above her living room on the rooftop, allegedly containing a boy who died in September 2009
- Police excavation revealed a rectangular flower bed approximately 3.5 meters long and 2 meters wide with 20-30 centimeters of soil
- Officers found bone fragments and teeth, but forensic examination confirmed they were pig bones and fish pharyngeal teeth—not human remains
- Police determined that the grave contained no coffin, burial urn, incense, or paper offerings, and the 73-year-old Liu was penalized for manufacturing the false narrative
Why It Matters
This case demonstrates how a fabricated rumor can rapidly escalate through social media and cause genuine harm—in this instance, an 8-year-old property owner suffered emotional distress and potential property value impact before learning the truth. The incident underscores the importance of verifying sensational claims before they spread, particularly in China where property disputes involving alleged haunted sites are sensitive and can significantly affect market values .
This case demonstrates how a fabricated rumor can rapidly escalate through social media and cause genuine harm—in this instance, an 8-year-old property owner suffered emotional distress and potential property value impact before learning the truth. The incident underscores the importance of verifying sensational claims before they spread, particularly in China where property disputes involving alleged haunted sites are sensitive and can significantly affect market values .