He had all the trappings of success: young, degree-holder, US-educated, and gainfully employed.  But 29-year old Cheng Wang was troubled underneath.  

Upon his return from the United States to his home in Yangzhou, Jiangsu for the Spring Festival, Wang killed his father, attempted to kill his mother, and then tried to kill himself.

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According to investigators, on the night of January 29, Wang went to their kitchen to kill his father by hitting his head with a brick and then cutting his throat with a kitchen knife.  He then proceeded to the backyard to kill his mother in the same manner. 

The father bled to death despite efforts to save him while the mother only sustained a small wound and was rescued in time. Wang's attempted suicide failed.  He was arrested on February 24.

Further investigations showed that Wang had a history of academic excellence that took him all the way from China's University of Science and Technology, to a university in the US for five years of masters and doctorate studies.  Prior to his return to Jiangsu in January, he was employed as an engineer in a big American company.

However, friends recount that after Wang returned to China in January, he saw that one of his old classmates had been successful in his career, drives a BMW, and is living in a big house with a wife. He also noted that his cousins in the same village had their own homes and cars now. 

Wang's sense of superiority was said to have suffered a dent from the progress he saw among his peers and wanted to kill himself, but decided to die with his parents instead.

Judicial experts say Wang is suffering from a depression without psychotic symptoms, which renders him with a limited criminal liability. A prosecutor also said that Wang had a suicidal tendency while he was in the US, but acknowledged that it would be difficult for his parents to conduct a funeral for their son in the US.

The People's Procuratorate of Hanjiang, Yangzhou issued an arrest warrant for Wang on February 24 and the case is now under litigation.