Episode 362: Chinese girl adopted by Spanish Socialite, killed 13 yrs later, strange photos found in dad's phone

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It was supposed to be a cute little road trip. 

12-year-old Isabella, her best friend Asunta, and Isabella’s mom were in the car heading towards the beach. 

Isabella’s mom tried to keep the spirits high for the girls - 

“Okay, why don’t we all share a story! Get our creative juices flowing!”

12-year-old Asunta offers to start. Her voice suddenly shaky - 

“There once was a girl who laid in her bed to sleep. She awoke to a man in a mask dragging her body off her bed, covering her mouth, and then choking her with his big strong hands. The girl could not breathe. She could not scream. She was going to die.”

Isabella’s mom pulls the car over to the side of the road because Asunta is bawling her eyes out.

“Sweetie, are you alright?”

Asunta was not alright. This was a true story, and it happened to Asunta - a man broke into their home and tried to kill her. 

But when Isabella’s mom talks to Asunta’s parents about it - she’s even more confused. Why are they not freaked out? Why didn’t they report this to the police? Who is this masked man, and is he still out there?

Why would he want to kill Asunta?

And did the man come back? Because 2 months later, Asunta would be murdered. 

Soon - everyone in Asunta’s life would become a prime suspect. Including her wealthy adoptive parents. 

Full Source Notes: rottenmangopodcast.com

Sources

Book: Murder of Asunta Yong Fang by Mark Guscin

Docu-Drama: “The Asunta Case” - by Netflix

(Used for reference but not for original sourcing of the story since it is not a documentary) 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/02/why-did-two-parents-murder-their-adopted-child-asunta-fong-yang

https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2024/04/27/the-shocking-true-story-behind-netflixs-the-asunta-case/?sh=1f2bbb9f66ce

https://www.madridmetropolitan.com/rosario-porto-found-dead-in-cell-after-losing-depression-battle/

https://www.laopinioncoruna.es/sucesos/2014/07/23/crimen-comenzo-madrugada-julio-24740689.html

https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/galicia/2015/10/08/asunta-profesoras-alergia-se-me-dan-me-dice-verdad/0003_201510G8P6991.htm

https://www.lavanguardia.com/sucesos/20230922/9244632/rosario-porto-alfonso-basterra-verdugos-asunta-10-anos-crimen-mas-vil-manos-padres-caras-mal.html

https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/the-asunta-case-netflix-true-story/

https://www.elcorreo.com/sociedad/caso-asunta-vida-prision-alfonso-basterra-bilbaino-condenado-20240425135027-nt.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elcorreo.com%2Fsociedad%2Fcaso-asunta-vida-prision-alfonso-basterra-bilbaino-condenado-20240425135027-nt.html

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a60717308/real-life-story-asunta-case/

https://www.nme.com/news/tv/the-asunta-case-ending-explained-what-happened-asunta-basterra-3752262

https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/545828/the-asunta-case-explained-asunta-basterra-tragic-parents-prison-sentence/

https://enterprise.news/egypt/en/news/story/6820d96f-037e-46ae-b2e8-91172cca43ef/the-asunta-case-opens-up-old-wounds-in-spain

https://en.as.com/entertainment/what-happened-to-asunta-basterra-the-real-story-behind-the-asunta-case-on-netflix-n/

https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-11-18/spanish-mother-convicted-of-2013-child-murder-found-dead-inside-her-prison-cell.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/10/30/inenglish/1446201752_969758.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/10/01/inenglish/1443706840_464578.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/10/01/inenglish/1380652180_649400.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/09/27/inenglish/1380308602_477241.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/09/24/inenglish/1380028353_669973.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/09/22/inenglish/1379872025_407291.html

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-13404711/asunta-case-spanish-couple-netflix-couple-china.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/11/20/inenglish/1384967882_113764.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/09/27/inenglish/1380308602_477241.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2013/09/26/inenglish/1380197943_537092.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2015/10/07/inenglish/1444216072_741362.html

https://english.elpais.com/elpais/2014/09/25/inenglish/1411634537_548787.html#?rel=listaapoyo

https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/552352/the-asunta-case-alfonso-prison-letter-rosario/

https://thedirect.com/article/alfonso-basterra-today-asunta-case-criminal-breakdown

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1878244/spanish-couple-sentenced-18-years-murdering-adopted-chinese-daughter

Production Note:

Rotten Mango has not done original reporting on this case. The stories are based on existing material (listed in show notes).

The RM team works hard to make sure everything you’re listening to is as accurate as possible and we try to use multiple sources to verify the facts. Creative liberties may be taken in certain cases during the presentation of the case. Please email us at rottenmangop@gmail.com if you have any questions!