The heartbreaking case of "Athena," or Kong Limei, a Chinese influencer with millions of followers who disappeared in the Philippines since 2023, has resurfaced after reports confirmed she was kidnapped upon traveling to Manila and was later killed — even after her family had paid an enormous ransom of approximately 25.8 million baht.
The mysterious disappearance of "Athena Liya," or "Athena" (Kong Limei), a Chinese influencer with more than a million online followers, which had gone unsolved for over three years, has drawn renewed attention after reports confirmed that she was kidnapped after traveling to Manila, the Philippines, in 2023, and was subsequently murdered — despite her family having paid a massive ransom.
What makes the case even more shocking is that the woman identified as having potentially helped plan her luring to the Philippines is Li Yifei, a close friend whom Athena had trusted for a long time. After the incident, Li Yifei fled the country and has not been arrested to this day.
Reports from Chinese media indicate that prior to the incident, Li Yifei had cultivated an online image of a wealthy young woman living a luxurious lifestyle. Then, in late May 2023, she invited Athena to travel to the Philippines, claiming she had just gone through a breakup and wanted to take a trip to clear her mind.
However, after Athena decided to make the journey to Manila alone, Li Yifei cancelled her own travel plans shortly before the departure date.
There is suspicion that Athena's flight information and travel details may have been passed on to a criminal group in advance, so that the moment she arrived in Manila, she was seized and fell into a trap that had already been set for her.
For Athena, who had always trusted this friend, she could hardly have imagined that this trip would become the beginning of a tragedy.
Family pays over 25 million baht in ransom — but she never came home
After Athena was kidnapped, the perpetrators were also alleged to have taken control of her social media accounts and used those channels to contact her family with ransom demands.
Hoping to bring their daughter home safely, Athena's family reportedly gathered approximately 800,000 US dollars, or around 25.8 million baht, to pay to the criminal group.
But after receiving the money, the perpetrators did not release her.
Reports indicate that the criminals, fearing the case would be exposed, decided to kill Athena and dispose of her body — bringing the family's hope of seeing her again to a tragic end.
Furthermore, after the incident, those involved were alleged to have deliberately spread multiple forms of disinformation to divert attention — including rumors that Athena had disappeared because of gambling debts, that she had been sold on to Cambodia, or that she had been forced into prostitution.
These various rumors left her family living in uncertainty and anguish for years.
Main suspect extradited, one still at large
On the progress of the case, it has been reported that Liu Hanwen, the main suspect, was extradited from the United States back to China in July 2026 to face trial.
Meanwhile, another accomplice, Chen Yuxuan, was arrested in South Korea in 2024.
As for Li Yifei, who is alleged to have been involved in planning to lure Athena to the Philippines, she quickly deleted her social media accounts after the incident and fled the country. There are currently no reports that authorities have been able to apprehend her.
This case not only reveals the truth behind the years-long disappearance of a well-known female influencer, but also reflects the dangers of transnational criminal networks — particularly in cases where victims are approached by someone close to them, which may cause them to lower their guard and find themselves in a dangerous situation before they even realize it.
