Horrifically burned body of poker star Susie Zhao, 33, found in remote parking lot as FBI probes mystery death
THE horrifically burned body of poker star Susie Zhao, 33, was found in a remote parking lot, it emerged today.
Susie, known as "Susie Q" on the circuit, was considered a "national talent" and believed to have won over $200,000 over the course of her career.
She was last seen by her mother in the early evening on July 12 and her badly burned body was found the next day in a wooded area on the outskirts of Detroit, according to police reports.
The motive behind the killing and her disappearance remains a mystery.
Local police believe Susie died some time after 11.45pm that night and have speculated that her profession may have been a motive, according to
"You have to determine whether or not this is a cover-up or this may be some sort of retaliatory incident because of her profession," said Detective Lt. Christopher Hild.
Police have also said the killing may be connected to somebody locally who she met with recently, according to .
The FBI are reportedly assisting officers in their investigation.
Her remains were found in Oakland County but it's unknown whether she was reported missing before the tragic discovery.
The high-stakes card player bounced between Los Angeles and Las Vegas but had recently moved back to Michigan to live with her parents and “confront challenges in her personal life,” friends told.
Police did not immediately release a cause of death and autopsy results are pending, report the
The news of the poker star's death came as a shock to family and friends as Susie was a very private person, it's reported.
Beijing-born Susie started playing poker when she was growing up in Troy, Michigan, her friends said.
She won thousands of dollars throughout her career as she played in tournaments in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
She walked away with more than $ at the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event after placing 90th.
"She was a free spirit in the truest sense," said friend Meredith Rogowski.
"She played by her own rules. She followed her dreams she was absolutely brilliant."
'ONE OF THE BEST'
Tributes poured in from fellow players on the poker circuit.
"She really was an excellent player," said Bart Hanson, a friend and poker rival told .
"She was one of the best in LA at the level we played at the Commerce Casino and it's the biggest poker room in the world," he said.
"I never would have thought anyone would of wanted to do anything to her."
"She was one of the bubbliest and most vivacious opponents I've ever had," tweeted , who played with Susie in the 2015 Main.
"She was a very strong player who also liked to have fun at the table," he said.
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One poker player does not believe that Susie's career was a motive for her death.
Former roommate Yuval Bronshtein said he was "surprised, confused and saddened," regarding Susie's death.
"It's hard to picture her having enemies," he said.
