Friends and community have rallied to support the father of the 10-year-old schoolgirl allegedly murdered by her own mother.
Sophie Wang died at her home in Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast, on Tuesday, August 14 leaving one of the ‘most confronting’ crime scenes detectives said they had ever seen.
The brutal death rocked the year 5 Emmanuel College student’s tight-knit local community, who’ve now set up a fundraiser to support Sophie’s father and family.
‘Sophie Wang was a kind-hearted, diligent, and dedicated sweetheart at home. At school, she was known for her compassion, care, and bright spirit. Sophie had a deep love for reading, music, and all things Harry Potter,’ the Gofundme page reads.
‘Her passing has left her family heartbroken and devastated, and her loss is deeply felt by her friends, peers, and the entire community.
‘Your generous contribution will allow Sophie’s family the space to grieve, heal, and begin to rebuild their lives without the immediate pressure of financial burdens.
‘Every donation, no matter the size, will make a significant difference in supporting Sophie’s family during this time.’
The appeal has already raised more than $6,000 dollars for the grieving family.
Sophie’s father, Yun Wang, a science professor at Griffith University, arrived home at 6pm to find his daughter and called triple zero, but despite the best efforts of paramedics, she could not be saved.
Hours after finding his daughter, the associate professor put on a blue forensic suit and helped detectives piece together the alleged murder.
Police will allege the Year 5 student’s mother Yingying Xu slashed her daughter’s throat at their Emerald Lakes home, in Carrara, on the Gold Coast, before fleeing the scene.
Xu, 46, was arrested in a nearby street more than four hours later – at 10.25pm – and was then charged with murder.
Detectives are investigating religious TikToks Xu posted the same day she allegedly killed her own daughter.
Xu had posted three videos to the platform earlier on Tuesday, showing her muttering in Chinese about religion.
In the clips, Xu talks about Christianity and how the ‘trinity’ is the ‘only true god’ and ‘Jesus is the incarnate son of man’.
Amanda, who lives across the street from the Xu-Wang home, described Sophie as a ‘really friendly little girl’.
‘She was in the same class as my grandson. He always spoke about her and they got on very well,’ Amanda told Daily Mail .
‘They were in the orchestra together. My grandson played the violin and she played the piano and the recorder.’
‘I could always hear her playing music from the street.
‘She was always walking to school and back. She was really friendly and would say hi. A really friendly little girl.’
Amanda, who has lived in the area for 12 years, said she didn’t notice anything unusual happening in the street until police officers swarmed the street around 6pm.
It wasn’t until the incident hit the news later that evening that she learned about what had happened.
‘I didn’t know the husband but I saw the wife walking in and out,’ Amanda said.
‘She was very into herself, when you walked past her she didn’t say hello or anything.
‘The whole community is in shock today.’
Members of the community flocked to the home to lay floral tributes outside the home.
Classmate Oliver Hayes, 11, who arrived at the home with his mother and other school friends said Sophie was academically talented.
‘She was one of the smartest kids in our school,’ Oliver told Daily Mail .
‘There’s so many words to describe her. She was very nice, she really cared about people a lot and she was very kind.’
The tragedy also rattled staff at Griffith University, where Prof Wang works in the chemistry and forensic science department, specialising in renewable energy.
‘We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of the daughter of a valued member of the Griffith community,’ the university said in a statement.
‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.’
Emmanuel College Principal Dan Brown earlier penned a school community letter to share his condolences.
‘It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of a tragic incident that occurred in a home within Emerald Lakes last night, resulting in the passing of one of our beloved students,’ the letter said.