The parents of Ashley Zhao made their first appearance in Massillon Municipal Court Wednesday morning for arraignment.
The charges listed by Judge Edward Elum were First Degree Murder and Felonious Assault for Mingming Chen, mother of Ashley, and Complicity to First Degree Murder and Complicity to Felonious Assault for Liang Zhou, the father of Ashley.
Both Chen and Zhou are scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on the morning of January 19th. No pleas have been entered at this time, and both parents have been appointed separate public attorneys.
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The search turned to grisly discovery as the body of five year old Ashley Zhao was found inside the restaurant her parents owned, and now a mother and father are charged with murder. Police say Mingming Chen struck her daughter several times in the head; she's charged with murder. Ashley's father Liang Zhou found his daughter with fluid coming her her mouth. He washed it off and tried to revive her using CPR. He's charged with complicity to commit assault. Both were booked into the Stark County Jail.
A day of searching ended with the hearbreaking discovery of the body of five year old Ashley Zhao in her family's restaurant.On this very inhospitable morning -- Jackson Township police are looking for a missing child who reportedly wandered away from her home. Five year old Ashley Zhao was last seen at a local business in the 49-hundred block of Portage Street NW. She's wearing a purple winter coat with gray leggings.
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(North Canton PD) The Jackson Township Police Department is investigating the disappearance of a five (5) year old female. The child was last seen in the 4900 block of Portage Street, NW, Jackson Township. It is believed she wandered out a back door of a business with unknown direction of travel. The child's name is Ashley Zhao, 5 years old, approximately 4" tall, 35-40 lbs, black hair, and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a purple winter coat and gray leggings. If you have any information please contact the Jackson Township Police Department at 330-834-3960 or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 330-834-3967.