The coroner’s inquiry into the Sengkang HDB father-daughter double corpse case in Singapore revealed that the daughter weighed only 24 kilograms at death and had reportedly refused to eat due to suspicions of food poisoning. It is believed that she was unable to live independently in the approximately three months following her father’s death, eventually dying of hunger and dehydration.
The father and daughter were Xu Baolu (74 years old) and Xu Na (48 years old). On the afternoon of October 6, 2025, both were discovered dead in a flat on the eighth floor of Block 324D, Sengkang East Avenue.
On Tuesday (March 31), the coroner’s court held an inquiry into the cause of death, summoning the police investigating officer to testify.
According to the investigator, police received a report about bloodstains seeping from the ceiling of the unit below the incident flat, and went to check at around 2 pm on October 6. As the front door was tightly locked, officers called in a locksmith to help gain entry.
After police entered the unit, they found the highly decomposed body of Xu Na in the messy living room, and in the bedroom, the skeletal remains of Xu Baolu. Police found no signs of forced entry or weapons in the home and found the unit keys in the living room.
As the bodies were already highly decomposed, the exact cause of death could not be determined, but Xu Na weighed only 24kg at her death and showed no external injuries. It is believed she died from hunger and dehydration.
Investigations showed that Xu Baolu withdrew money regularly between January and May 2025, with the last transaction on June 3. Police inferred that he died shortly after June 3. Records indicate he had no known illnesses.
Xu Na’s psychiatric assessment indicated symptoms of auditory hallucinations. Several neighbors reported that Xu Na exhibited unusual behavior, often seen talking to herself, singing, or dancing. Neighbors also noted the pair were very reclusive, always wore masks when going out, and were hardly ever visited by others. Family members stated that Xu Na had previously refused to eat while in China in 2017 due to suspicions of food poisoning.
Additionally, on June 29, 2025, Xu Na was seen in a convenience store. Police had difficulty communicating with her at the time; she could not remember her home address, and her EZ-Link card balance had just over S$5.
From July 2025 onwards, the Town Council received complaints about a bad odor in the block, and on August 28, distributed notices to residents, including one to the father and daughter’s flat. When Town Council officers checked the block on August 30, they did not detect any foul smell at their unit’s door, but noticed the notice was still there.
However, when police entered the unit on October 6, they found the Town Council notice in the living room. This suggests Xu Na was likely still alive on August 30.
Police also discovered there was no stove in the flat, which relatives believe Xu Baolu had removed for his daughter’s safety. The fridge only contained condiments, and no cooked food, but the flat still had running water and electricity.
Given Xu Na’s severe mental health issues, including persecutory delusions that her food was poisoned, and her complete dependence on her father for daily and financial needs, the police ruled out homicide.
According to an earlier report by Shin Min Daily News, Xu Na had earned a PhD at Cambridge University and worked as a scientific researcher in France. Her mental health reportedly declined after her mother passed away in 2016.
The coroner will announce the inquiry’s findings on May 15.