A door-to-door search has been underway since then in the 404-Finch area neighbourhood, desperately looking for the abducted girl. She never turned up at her school. An Ontario-wide Amber Alert has also been issued, and authorities are asking anyone who sees her or finds any clue to her whereabouts to call a special hotline, at (416) 808-8390.

Police won’t confirm reports of a broken window, but pictures clearly show a dislodged screen on one of the floors of the family home. “It looks like this house may have been entered during the night, that’s all I’m going to say,” a cautious Detective Sgt. Dave Perry told reporters. “We do have evidence of foul play in the house.” Investigators confirm the child isn’t the kind to run away.

And late Monday came a new revelation - there was a basement apartment in the home. And all the people who live there have been questioned.

So far, police are stymied, unable to confirm what Cecilia was wearing when she disappeared, and unwilling to say what evidence they do have.

The girls’ parents have been taken away to another location, where they’re being updated on the progress of the case.

The child, who attends grade 4 at Seneca Hill Public School, is described as:

4’11”,
70 lbs.,
Shoulder length brown hair, with blonde highlights,
Brown eyes,
Good teeth.

She speaks excellent English.

Police have set up a temporary command post on the scene, and they’re begging for leads. Because the more time that passes, the colder the trail grows.

Please click on the link below, there is more, including video

Cecilia's safe return cops' #1 priority

Cecilia well liked

Neighbours stunned by abduction

Child Find Ontario ready with posters

Streetproofing tips

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20031020-012/page.asp

http://www.geocities.com/astrospy/astrologyinvestigator.html

October 24, 2003, Friday (Venus Day)

Almost unbelievably (to me) the police finally brought in dogs to search her scent, on Thursday, four days after Cecilia's disappearance. They believe she is alive, and apparently have information that we do not have. They suggest kidnap for ransom.

Here's the latest:

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20031023-008/page.asp

http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20031023-023/page.asp

If you are interested in reading Cecilia's astrology, click on the link
http://www.geocities.com/astrospy/ceciliazhangastrology.html

It is based it upon March 3, 1994, noon, Toronto birthdate. I list her planet transits for this period.

At first glance, (looking at outer planet transits), the implication is that she changed her place of residence, not necessarily by her own choice, but possibly. It does not suggest any violence.

Looking further at her inner planet transits, it appears more that she was interrupted unexpectedly by someone and taken to a nearby location, where she is restrained and unable to communicate. Business transactions are favored.(Kidnapping for ransom scenario which is suggested by police seems to be supported by her astrology.)

The long and difficult search for missing 9-year-old Cecilia Zhang is now in its sixth agonizing day. Zhang was apparently abducted right from the bed where she slept last Monday in her Whitehorn Crescent home, and her mother and father have been sleepless and sick with worry ever since. On Friday, they worked through their grief and delivered a heartbreaking public plea for their daughter’s return. But now they’re back to waiting out the hardest moments of their lives as police continue to follow up on more than 700 tips that may or may not bring Cecilia back home.

However, there is hope. Since Sherry Xu and Raymond Chang emptied their hearts, Cecilia hotline (416-808-8390) has been ringing off the hook. If you know anything that can help police, they urge you to call the number immediately.

As for who took Cecilia, officers have ruled out a random abduction by a sexual predator. Their probe seems to be focusing on a possible kidnap for random. They are in a “new phase” of the hunt, meaning they’ve called off their door-to-door search of the area surrounding the Zhang family home, because their all-out efforts in that direction hadn’t yielded any results. But Sergeant Jim Muscat assures the stoppage doesn’t mean authorities are giving up on their search for Cecilia. He notes that if new evidence arises, they could begin all over again.

A Trust Fund has been set up to help the Zhang family:

HELP RETURN CECILIA TRUST FUND

TD Bank Account # 5204297

Transit # 1282

October 25, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Mikie for your help !

http://www.ceciliazhang.org/contact_en.html

Another Monday has come and gone, and there's still no sign of little Cecilia Zhang. Every second is agony for the parents of the nine-year-old, who has now been missing for more than five weeks. She was abducted from her Whitehorn Crescent bedroom on October 20th, and even a $115,000 reward has failed to turn up any trace of her.

But now that bounty has been bumped up. Councillor Paul Sutherland’s “Eyes For Angels” – a organization that fights crime against children – is adding $25,000 to the kitty, to bring the total amount being offered for Cecilia’s return to $140,000. But after such a long absence could that money be used to pay a ransom?

Chief Julian Fantino doesn’t think that will happen, but he’s not ruling anything out. “This is not a ransom fund,” he points out. “The ransom issue is something that we would be looking at apart from this, but no one says never.”

Fantino admits many people have approached him about paying the price for getting the little girl home safely. “I've had a number of citizens contact me directly, offering unconditionally whatever money is necessary to bring Cecilia back home … safe and sound, which could be a ransom.”

Sutherland hopes the money loosens some too-long silent lips. “This is a war that we're fighting,” he pronounces. “And it's a war that we must fight together to stop these child predators. We can be the Eyes for Angels in our city.”

All branches of the Bank of Nova Scotia Canada-wide are accepting donations to the Eyes For Angels fund. The money will be used for public education and to offer rewards in cases like Cecilia's. If you’d like to contribute, the Transit number is 03012, while the account is 0049816.

While Fantino claims investigators are optimistic that Cecilia is still alive, they’re no longer positive she’s still in the country. Details of her case were given to Interpol, an international police agency that serves over 180 countries, on the weekend. But cops still think a local tip will bring the key clue that breaks the case. If you’ve got one, call the Hotline at (416) 808-8390

To see unedited video of Sutherland and Fantino, click here.
See video of Cecelia 'Eyes For Angels'
http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20031126-008/page.asp

November 26, 2003

It started like so many other nights, when Raymond Zhang and Sherry Xu put their daughter, Cecilia, to bed in their Whitehorn Crescent home. But the morning of October 20th would be like few others they - or this city - has ever seen.

Someone with an obvious knowledge of the home broke in through the family's kitchen window during those dark hours and performed an even darker deed, taking the bright eyed and gifted nine-year-old captive and fleeing the only sanctuary she's ever known.

When her parents came to get her the next morning, she was gone. And the panic set in, as police descended on the normally quiet North York neighbourhood. An Amber Alert screamed the grade four student's description across the province. Media outlets ran her picture continuously. And detectives began the painstaking task of trying to find former tenants of the home or anyone with a motive for the terrible crime.

They also traced two mysterious phone calls made that day from two separate pay phones in Brampton, interviewing witnesses who may have seen the figure on the other end. But despite theories about a kidnapping for ransom, no one has contacted either the Zhangs or the authorities.

Events followed in quick succession - the distraught parents appeared at Police Headquarters, making a heartbreaking plea to their daughter and to her abductors. A hotline, (416) 808-8390, was quickly set up, taking over a thousand tips, all of which were being checked out. A non-traceable website, ceciliazhang.org, was started, with the family hopeful the culprits would leave a message. A reward that now tops $100,000 was offered for the girl's safe return. And even "America's Most Wanted" got in on the act, telling Cecilia's story to millions of viewers across North America.

And still, there was no sign of the child. Police continue to stay optimistic, insisting they have every reason to believe Cecilia is still alive and still in the country. But every day that goes by makes it harder to stay hopeful. And every second is agony for a quiet couple who never expected to be placed in such a bright and harsh spotlight - and would give everything they own just to get their daughter back home.

Story archive:

Cecilia's Disturbing Disappearance
Date: Oct. 20, 2003
http://www.pulse24.com/missing/

What does a recent heist at the Art Gallery of Ontario have in common with the Cecilia Zhang kidnap case?

Not much before Friday. But now Zhang’s father Raymond is hoping his daughter will be returned through the same means that several rare artifacts were recovered. He’s confident that the privilege of lawyer/client confidentiality will lead to an anonymous tip, and ultimately, her safe return. That’s why he’s put $200,000 in reward money in the hands of his attorneys.

“So far, no one has come forward to us, so we think probably they are frightened to directly contact us, so that's why we want to try a different avenue,” he said from his home Friday.

Cecilia hasn’t been seen since disappearing in October, and her parents want her back by her birthday, March 30th.

“Her birthday is coming up. I hope the miracle is going to happen before (then),” Raymond said.

Zhang refinanced his home to raise the $200,000 being offered and his lawyers think the new tactic could lead to a happy ending.

“We’re very hopeful that the person who has Cecilia alive will determine now is the time to come forward and that there is a procedure in place (lawyer confidentiality) so that he or she doesn't have to worry about being apprehended,” explained lawyer Jeffry House.

That privilege led to the recovery of five ivory sculptures stolen from the A.G.O.

Lawyer Dennis Morris was tipped off about the whereabouts of the $1.5 million works of art.

“An individual contacted me, and as a result of the contact, I was able to pick up the items, have them safely returned to the police, and keep the person or persons name and identity 100% privileged and confidential,” he explained.

If you want to leave an anonymous tip, you can call attorney Jeffrey House at (416)926-9402, or Dennis Morris at (416)977-4799.

February 28, 2004

The little girl was kidnapped from her Whitehorn Crescent bedroom last October and despite a worldwide search, there's been no sign of her.

Adding to the concern is the fact the Toronto Police Forensic Unit has appeared at the scene to join Peel cops, although none of them are saying anything. Authorities have also gathered at the Zhang's North York home, although it isn't clear why.

About all we know for sure is that the body appears to be that of a young girl, and may have been there for some time. For now, experts have two big tasks - conduct an afternoon autopsy to discover the cause of death of the youngster, and determine the identity of the child.

Police have been searching for Cecilia non-stop since she disappeared five months ago. Both her parents and authorities have said they're certain she's still alive, and the Zhangs have mortgaged their house to offer a $200,000 reward for her return, with no questions asked.

It's a grim time for the beleaguered family, as they wait for word. Cecilia will mark her 10th birthday on Tuesday.

March 28, 2004 Sunday
http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20040328-001/page.asp

Cecilia Zhang Home page
http://www.ceciliazhang.org/contact_en.html

A visa student from China has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cecilia Zhang.

Min Chen, 21, was arrested at his Scarborough home on Wednesday. Police say he befriended the Zhang family through a young woman who lived at their home for a short time. Crime Specialist Dwight Drummond has all the details on the case.

Cecilia Zhang's parents send a message of thanks out after police announce the arrest of a suspect in the child's abduction and murder, while their neighbours express relief at the news. Merella Fernandez has the reaction to the arrest, while we look back at the history of the case.
Continue at this link:
www.pulse24.com

She knew him, her parents knew him and they all felt comfortable around him. So shock and horror rocked Cecilia Zhang’s parents Wednesday, as they learned 21-year-old Min Chen is a suspect in their little girl’s abduction and murder.

A day after the news hit the media, speculation about just how well the accused and the victim knew each other began to fly, along with theories about a possible motive in the case.

Chen was friends with a woman who had lived at the Zhang home in North York and had visited on at least four different occasions. Now there are reports that the main suspect may even have taken Cecilia fishing in the same area of the Credit River, where her remains were found in March, months after she was abducted from her home in October.

And while police won't confirm it, there are indications the physical evidence found at that scene ties directly to Chen.

Peel Regional Police Chief Noel Catney said Chen was an enthusiastic fisherman who was “intimately familiar” with the spot where Cecilia was eventually found. And the child liked to fish, too. Now investigators are trying to find out if the Zhangs ever went to that area with him.

The 21-year-old visa student from China is charged with first degree murder and is being held at the Maplehurst Detention Facility until he makes another court appearance in mid-August.

A female companion was also detained, but no charges were laid against her and she's since been released.

Now the question the public wants answered is: Why? There’s been no official word on a motive, but detectives have been following a theory that it was a case of a ransom attempt that went tragically awry.

Chen had reportedly been gambling away the money his parents back in Shanghai had been sending him for tuition, and needed a new source of funds.

There are also inferences that the 21-year-old knew two people involved in the abduction and murder of a Toronto private school owner back in May 2002, and may have hoped to beat their fate.

That pair gambled away most of their school money, but were caught after the crime. Both are serving 15 year jail terms.

Detectives won't say if any of those circumstances led to the events that ensnared the Zhang family, but one thing is apparent. Whoever killed the child and whatever the original intent may have been, it went terribly, tragically wrong.
July 23, 2004
http://www.pulse24.com/News/Top_Story/20040723-005/page.asp

...............................................................
**
Was the abduction an intended kidnap for ransom gone uglier ? I recall there was a strange phone call to the Zhang parents...

A woman who allegedly has ties to the Cecilia Zhang case is supposedly writing online messages about the main suspect. And she claims the accused child killer may not be guilty.

The woman, who says she was the one detained and then released in connection with the case, dispatched a statement on a Chinese website based in Toronto. It’s the same portal that Cecilia’s parents used to speak with the Chinese community when the hunt for their daughter was still on.

The still unidentified woman's message claims she was surprised to hear 21-year-old Min Chen is a suspect, describing him as a “very kind person” and saying that she “would have never imagined that he would be responsible for this tragedy.”

But the poster’s identify can’t be confirmed.

Meanwhile, there’s still been no official announcement about a motive in the case. But some speculation has hinted that a need to raise cash to do away with gambling debts was the reason the nine-year-old was taken from her home in October, 2003.

The stories suggest those ransom plans fell apart because of all the attention on the child's abduction and that Cecilia was then killed.

New media reports claim that two fingerprints discovered at the Zhang’s house represented a major breakthrough for investigators.

And there have also been unconfirmed stories that evidence found with Cecilia's body contained links to the suspect. The child's remains were discovered in a wooded area of Mississauga last March.

July 26, 2004