At 5 PM on September 22, Shi Tingfu was officially informed of his death from "myocardial infarction" at Shahe Prison in the First Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. His son received a call from the prison at 10:30 PM that night. The family claims he was in good condition during a recent visit. Chinese human rights defenders' network demands medical records and an independent investigation.
In April 2025, Shi Tingfu told his son during a phone call that he felt weak all over every day. His health problems were previously on record.
In 2024, Nanjing rights defender Shi Tingfu was arrested across provinces for helping Xinjiang fruit farmers defend their rights, and was subsequently sentenced to three years for the crime of picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Radio Free Asia reported that his health deteriorated during detention.