Min Chen was born on January 30, 1983, in Shanghai, China. He grew up in a family that valued education and work. His father was an airline executive, and his mother worked as a police officer. This upbringing gave him a stable, if not privileged, lifestyle. Chen seemed to live a typical childhood in a large city.

In 2001, at the age of 18, Min Chen moved to Canada to study. He arrived on a visa, hoping to build a better future for himself. He enrolled in classes at Seneca College, where he was studying English. At first, it appeared that he was adjusting to life in Canada. However, as time went on, his studies began to decline, and he struggled to keep up.

To support himself, Chen relied on financial help from his parents. They sent him money, hoping this would help him succeed. However, as his studies failed to improve, he became worried about his future. He feared he might be deported back to China if things did not change.

At one point, Chen stopped attending his English classes and did not complete his high school education at a local private academy. His situation began to feel more desperate. He needed money for living expenses and to find a way to remain in Canada.

Min Chen was known to have made some social connections during his time in Canada. He had previously met a female boarder who lived at the home of a child named Cecilia Zhang. He visited their home several times, which likely made Cecilia feel comfortable around him.

On October 20, 2003, Cecilia Zhang, a nine-year-old girl, was abducted from her home in North York, Ontario. Min Chen entered her home through a kitchen window during the early morning hours. He took Cecilia while she was asleep and left through a side door. When Cecilia tried to scream, Chen covered her face with a towel and held his hand over her mouth. Eventually, he placed her in the trunk of his car.

Later, Chen checked on Cecilia and found that she had stopped breathing. He said her death happened by accident during his poorly planned kidnapping. After her disappearance, Cecilia's body was found months later on March 27, 2004, in a wooded area near the Credit River in Mississauga. Her remains were highly decomposed, making it difficult for authorities to determine the cause of death or if she had been assaulted.

Min Chen was arrested after police received a complaint about illegal fishing near the area where Cecilia's body was found. His fingerprints were also discovered on a window screen at the Zhang home. Chen faced first-degree murder charges but eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 9, 2006. He was given a life sentence and could apply for parole after 15 years.

During the trial, the judge questioned Chen's account of the events. He noted that it was not an accidental killing but a result of a failed kidnapping. Chen, a Chinese national living in Canada on a visa, may face additional legal consequences in China once he completes his sentence in Canada.