A member of Dagou’s high school class is quoted as saying, “He was obsessed with her. She was everything—blue-eyed and sexy, on the homecoming court.”
James takes a few more bites of scrambled eggs, studying the photos. First, Dagou’s mug shot, widely circulated since the story was picked up by the supermarket tabloids: “Suspect: William Dagou ‘Dog Eater’ Chao.” The image is Dagou, and not Dagou: darker than he really is, with fierce, hooded eyes. His gaze challenges James, yet beseeches him, and there’s an almost disturbing air of repose in the curve of his full mouth. The website has gotten hold of more images of Dagou: his high school and college yearbook photos, also printed in a manner that make him seem more dark skinned than he is; and one snapshot from New York City, of anonymous origin, showing the twenty-five-year-old Dagou leaning over his bass, his bow low at the frog, his shoulders bunched under his shirt.
Brenda’s high school yearbook photo could have been dropped in directly from a 1950s pinup poster. Her blue eyes gleam at James. A wave of ash-blond hair curves against her cheek. She is so fresh and sultry that there could be no question she “drove the immigrant father and his son into a frenzy.”
In Ming’s photo, he appears more light-skinned than he really is. But the contrast with Dagou is just as obvious in his erect posture, his jacket and tie, his aura of conventionality and exactitude. “The middle brother whose ignorance of the conflict and whose absence from the crime scene clearly exonerates him from the murder, Ming Chao has provided the financial support to release Dagou ‘Dog Eater’ Chao on $1 million bail.”
Under James’s photo, the article has reprinted the one quote James gave to a reporter, before Ming texted him to shut up. “My brother and father had their disagreements, but Dagou would never commit murder. My brother is innocent.” For some reason, Ming and Katherine don’t want James to release any more statements to the press, not even in support of Dagou. They’ve made James promise not to talk, even though Jerry Stern, Dagou’s lawyer, issued no such edict.
In Alf’s close-up, he’s less than a year old, almost unrecognizably puppyish. He gazes directly at James, head slightly cocked, bat ears unfolded in typical, unceasing alertness. His small black nose is shaped like a heart, the fur on his jowls shimmers, and the blaze on his chest is bright white and fluffy. The image is cropped so that his hindquarters are only partially visible, and a woman’s arm (Winnie’s) can just be seen.
His mother and Alf are gone now. James puts down his fork and shields his eyes with his hands. It’s a few minutes before he can refocus on his screen. There are 294 comments. James scrolls down, then clicks.
Sheri
CA 42 m ago
As a dog lover, I cannot forgive William Chao for callously cooking and serving his father’s pet. This is indefensible behavior. I notice the story of Alf’s disappearance and the mysterious meat dish, which was earlier reported, has been hushed up. PETA has this under investigation and the truth will out. Animal abuse is criminal and immoral. Justice for Alf!
Jean Hu
Manhattan 38 m ago
The dog dinner is the Juniper-Tree, adult-diaper-revenge-drive detail of this story making it go viral. Without Alf, no one would care. You’d have just another private tragedy of an oppressed immigrant family.
Fang Wa
Haven 36 m ago
As a person who has known the Chao family for many years, I deride the spread of this rumor as false and malicious, not to mention racist, gossip. The entire Chao family was devoted to Alf and was broken-hearted when he disappeared. The dog-meat story began as a joke. This incident has been blown up and circulated by anti-Asian scandal-mongers.
charlotte wisniak
oshkosh 32 m ago
stop the abuse of helpless animals
You Jin
Iowa City 30 m ago
Please see the attached link to a consortium of dog lovers and concerned citizens from many countries who have been able to rescue Asian restaurant dogs and bring them to the US for adoption.
Joe M.
Louisville 8 m ago
I lived in Xi’an for two years. It’s where I met my wife. I was able to taste dog meat several times. It’s good—a lot like mutton, but with a special savory flavor. I happen to know that the Chinese prize black dogs for their flavor, over any other color.
Jonathan N.
Lafayette 46 m ago
As a Chinese American, I find this entire case an embarrassment to my community.
Keiko
Milwaukee 43 m ago
Your comment is an example of the self-hatred that has led to stereotypes such as the “model minority.” Why must we Asians be superior to other groups?
GS Meng
Flushing 1 hour ago
This story is blowing up because of the racism of the white American community. Look to your own families, people, and don’t throw stones.
Linda H.
Washington DC 5 m ago
Agreed. In the newspapers, there are articles about a tyrannical world leader driving emigrants away from the borders of a country that was once a haven for refugees; police officers choking our own citizens in cold blood; immoral judges disallowing marriages of life-long lovers; deranged shooters gunning down scores of well-wishers at a rock music benefit; children going hungry in acutely troubled countries whose economies are stumbling from corruption; hurricanes, floods, tsunamis; whales beaching and foundering on the shores; runaway fires streaking down clogged arteries of desperately escaping vehicles. Amidst this turmoil and grief, why Leo Chao? Why did the death of Leo Chao become news? It couldn’t just be the rumor of a dog meat restaurant. Perhaps it debunks the myth of immigrant success, and tells the story of a secret from behind the high walls of family and community: that behind a family business, a successful father and a set of handsome sons, prowls, clawed and fanged, a mythical monstrousness of tyranny, hatred, and murderous intent? Or perhaps it’s all a desperate need for readers to displace their hatreds, their traumas, the tyrannies under which they suffer, onto a story of tyranny and revenge refreshing and different enough to allow them to believe it is not theirs.
Sylvia Han
Atlanta 28 m ago
Brenda Wozicek is a trashy gold-digger bent upon corrupting the lives of innocent Chinese men, and she has been a poor influence on the three sons, not to mention the father.
5 REPLIES
Saskya 27 m ago
Dagou, I’ll make you forget all about Brenda!
Jana 26 m ago
Yes! I heart Dagou!!!
Frannie 25 m ago
James is the one for me. What a sweetie <3 <3 <3.
Nunu 23 m ago
Ming Chao is the hotte$t!
Ed Wong 19 m ago
At last, I’ve discovered the secret of how to attract women as an Asian male: get indicted for patricide.