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Chen's Disappearance and the AI Conspiracy

1:01:59 recording · EN · 1 speaker

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Brief overview

A celebrated cancer researcher, worn down by his nephew's affair and stalking, kills him outside court.

  1. A résumé that fuels conspiracy theoriesChen's work in AI, biometrics, bioinformatics and cancer research is exactly the profile netizens investigate when a scientist is tied to a death.
  2. The affair detonated the whole extended familyChen lost his marriage, his nephew, his sister's loyalty and his split life between Boston and China in a single night.
  3. A lapsed restraining order preceded the killingThe judge saw no significant change in circumstances and refused an extension; the killing happened in the courthouse parking lot right after.
Executive Summary AI
  • Chen, a Chinese bioinformatics researcher based in the United States, built a résumé at Cassia, Tsinghua University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Harvard, co-authored at least 15 peer-reviewed papers on cancer, and founded a Chinese biotech company called My Health Gene.0:46
  • On April 7th, 2022, outside the Cambridge District Courthouse in Medford, Massachusetts, Chen rammed his white Chevy Equinox into his 23-year-old nephew Cohen, reversed into him again, then stepped out and fired five to six times; his own attorney pinned him down until police handcuffed him.5:38
  • The motive traced back to 2019, when Chen came home early from China and found his 39-year-old wife Michelle in bed with his 19-year-old nephew, who had been living with the family since 2016 to learn English, ending an affair of almost two years and Chen's marriage.12:55
  • After the divorce, Cohen demanded that the family secure him a green card, allegedly telling Chen "I will stop harassing you guys as long as you let me marry my aunt," while Chen's older sister — who had dropped out after middle school so Chen could attend a Key Point high school and university — pressured her brother to agree and threatened to abandon their mother.19:33
  • A restraining order filed in late 2020 followed threats, trespassing and a hospitalization for self-harm watch, but on the day of the hearing the judge declined to extend it, and minutes later Chen killed Cohen; he has pled not guilty to murder and armed assault, was denied bail, and a 2025 wrongful death suit brought for Cohen's estate was dropped.52:49
Key Quote
“one prominent ufo researcher once said if you start looking for patterns you're gonna find them”
— Speaker0:00
Key Quote
“I will stop harassing you guys as long as you let me marry my aunt.”
— Cohen19:33
Key Quote
“my future has been ruined by you you ruined everything everything for me”
— Cohen48:59