Malden Kidnapping Suspect Arraigned in Providence; Chilling Details of Abduction Revealed in FBI Affidavit

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Rhode Island has taken custody of the man arrested in 160 Pleasant Street Saturday night. The suspect, Zhenpeng “Todd” Hu, 24, of Malden, has been charged with conspiracy to commit carjacking and kidnapping, carjacking and kidnapping.  A federal judge has ordered Hu held during an initial hearing in Providence’s U.S. District Court.

In an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Justin Bowers, federal authorities claim Hu and an accomplice, Shengfeng “Alex” Cui, 27, of East Providence, R.I., assaulted both Xiaoshuang Yu and Xianglong Wu in their Regency Plaza, Providence apartment, stuffed both into separate pieces of luggage, and then kidnapped Wu, taking him to Malden.

Cui has also been charged with conspiracy to commit carjacking and kidnapping, carjacking and kidnapping.

Victims Awoke to Assailants in Apartment

According to Bowers’ affidavit, Hu and Cui entered Yu and Wu’s apartment using a key previously given to them. Hu and Wu were previously classmates, and Wu gave Hu a key so his friend could easily access the locked building.  Cui and Hu threatened the couple with a knife and stun gun.

“The men fought with Wu. Yu was struck in the face and told to be quiet or she would be killed,” wrote Bowers in the affidavit. “Wu was beaten. Both were overpowered by the assailants and were restrained with plastic flex ties. Yu was put in a large suitcase. She was warned to remain there and was ultimately left in the apartment.”

By 6 a.m., Yu managed to escape from the bag and ran to a neighbor for help, her hands still bound. Among other things, officers learned at that time that Wu comes from a wealthy family in China.

Wu Taken to Malden, Where Beatings Continued

According to the affidavit, Cui and Hu stuffed Wu in a duffle bag and carried it to his Porsche. At some point in the journey to Malden, the men switched to a different car.

Cui and Hu took Wu into an apartment at 160 Pleasant Street, where they again beat him and then put him in a plastic-covered bathroom, using duct tape and flex ties to restrain Wu.

 “During the abduction and beatings Wu tried to negotiate with his kidnappers. But no demands were made of him,” according to the affidavit.

Eventually, Cui and Hu left Wu alone in the apartment. He struggled for two hours to free himself and ran from the apartment to the building manager’s office. The manager immediately called police.

Hu Lived in Building, But Held Wu in Different Unit

Malden Police and the FBI Evidence Response Team responded to the scene and searched the apartment, which was littered with flex ties. The bathroom was covered in a dark plastic tarp. Officers also found receipts for duct tape, flex ties, apparel and adult diapers.

Shiquan “Ben” Wang, who was away on vacation, owns the apartment where Wu was held. According to the affidavit, Wang left his apartment and car keys to Hu before he left for vacation.

“Law enforcement officers attempted to locate [Hu] by going to his apartment which was also located at 160 Pleasant Street. While at [Hu’s] apartment with his girlfriend, officers heard a noise at the door,” read the affidavit. “Outside the door officers found a set of keys and a note than had been left there. They heard the sound of footsteps running from the apartment. Todd’s girlfriend recognized the keys. She said they were hers. She also said the note, which was written in Chinese, was from [Hu].”

Hu Hid on Roof and Tried to Kill Himself

By 11:30 p.m., officers had sealed the building and been searching for hours to locate Hu. Finally, he was discovered in a maintenance control room on the roof. According to the affidavit, Hu had tried to slash his wrist using a broken paint can.

Hu was arrested and sent to the hospital for treatment. After his physical injuries were treated, he was sent to Bridgewater State Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation, according to the affidavit.

Cui Fled Country, May be in Korea

In the affidavit, Bowers wrote that he went to Cui’s apartment and learned he has left the country. His roommate told the FBI Cui borrowed her cell phone and credit card to book a flight from JFK International Airport in New York City to China via Seoul, Korea.

“[The roommate] said that [Cui] called her to say he had arrived in Seoul. In a subsequent interview, she said that [Cui] told her that he and [Hu] were in trouble and that he could not use his own phone or credit card to make his travel arrangements,” read the affidavit.

Suspects Planned to Sell Sports Car

 According to the affidavit, Hu spoke with authorities and outlined a plan to kidnap Wu and sell his 2011 Porsche, with Hu and Cui splitting the proceeds. When they switched cars on the way to Malden, they went from the Porsche to Wang’s BMW. The Porsche was found in Cranston, R.I., and the BMW was found in East Providence.

Hu did not explain why he abducted Wu in order to steal the car. He did say he and Cui covered Wang’s bathroom in plastic “so that the victim would not be able to recognize his surroundings,” according to the affidavit. Hu said the plan was to hold Wu there for two days while they sold the Porsche, which they valued at $80,000.

Hu confessed that he and Cui were the kidnappers, and that he covered the security cameras inside 160 Pleasant Street, bought a stun gun, disguises and other supplies to commit the crime, according to the affidavit.