Vanished Without a Trace: The Enigmatic Disappearance of Melissa Fu and Amber Aiaz in Irvine

A Quiet Life in Irvine

Melissa Fu, a 12-year-old girl, lived with her mother, Amber Aiaz, and stepfather, Cheng Zhang, in an apartment near Michelson and University Drive in Irvine, California. Amber, originally from Dalian, China, had moved to the United States in 2005 and operated a seafood grocery business with locations in Irvine and Las Vegas. Cheng Zhang worked as an Uber driver. The family had recently relocated to Irvine from Las Vegas and were known to lead a quiet life, with no reported issues or conflicts.

The Day of Disappearance

On November 22, 2019, Amber embarked on a day trip to Las Vegas to transport fresh groceries for her business. Melissa stayed home with Cheng Zhang. Around 4:30 p.m., Zhang reported that a man and a woman, both appearing to be of Chinese descent, knocked on their apartment door. When he answered, he felt a misty substance sprayed on his face, causing him to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, he found bloodstains on the carpet and a bloody handprint on the kitchen wall. Melissa and Amber were missing, and Amber's van, filled with groceries, was parked outside.

The Mysterious Notes

Zhang discovered a handwritten note in Chinese, stating that Amber and Melissa were safe and would return in a few days if he did not contact the police. The note instructed him to clean the apartment and act normally. Over the next several days, Zhang received additional notes slipped under the door, reiterating the same message and advising him to continue his routine. One note instructed him to leave town for two days, which he did, traveling to Las Vegas to stay with relatives. Upon his return, he received a final note with similar instructions. When Amber and Melissa did not return, and no further notes appeared, Zhang reported the incident to the police on December 2, 2019.

The Investigation Begins

Initially, law enforcement was skeptical of Zhang's account. However, an extensive investigation, including over 40 hours of interviews and 44 days of surveillance, did not disprove his story. Zhang cooperated fully, directing investigators to evidence he had attempted to clean or dispose of, including bloodstains believed to be Amber's. He also passed a polygraph test administered by the FBI, and his consistent recounting of events led authorities to consider alternative theories....Read More

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