According to a report by Red Star News on October 15, in the case of the elderly man's death in Xiangcheng, the family denies any intent to kill, the defense questions the causal link between the obstruction of rescue and the death, multiple relatives have filed appeals, and the case is still under second-instance trial.
On March 30, 2026, a court in Xiangcheng, Henan, found in first instance that Cao's family members had discussed having the elderly person drink pesticide and die on the neighbor's homestead, using the death to force the neighbor to stop work and secure the release of her son Li, who had been criminally detained; six relatives, including her husband and daughter, were convicted of intentional homicide, with the husband sentenced to 6 years.
On December 17, 2024, a 70-year-old resident surnamed Cao died in Xiangcheng, Henan, and a forensic examination concluded that the cause of death was consistent with sudden cardiac death. According to reports, her family had dragged her to a neighbor's homestead and obstructed rescue efforts while she still had vital signs.