Authorities in China's Henan take father, stepmother into custody over death of abused teen

Authorities in central China's Henan province have taken a man and his second wife into custody over the death of the man's 14-year-old son, who reportedly showed signs of long-term abuse and malnutrition.

The boy, identified only by the surname Zhang, died on October 5 last year – the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival – in Anyang city. A joint working group from the city's Long'an district confirmed the father turned himself in after the incident. The stepmother, surnamed Li, was recently identified as a key suspect after an autopsy report was completed on January 20. Both are now under criminal coercive measures.

The boy's aunt told domestic media the teenager was wearing a diaper at the time of his death and had suffered liver necrosis, pulmonary hemorrhage and visibly protruding ribs. Police reportedly attributed the death to prolonged abuse and starvation.

A local task force comprising police and women's federation officials said the case is under further investigation.