Mr. Yu Chunhai was a 63-year old Falun Gong practitioner from Machang Village, Zuojia Town, Changyi District, Jilin City, Jilin Province. Because he insisted on practicing Falun Gong, local police and government officials had constantly harassed him. On the night of February 7, 2002, policeman Wang Ruogang from Zuojia Town Police Station, Wang Jingkun from Zuojia Town "610 Office," and Deputy Party Secretary Tan Lan from Zuojia Town government, broke into Yu Chunhai's home with the help of Machang Village Party Secretary Zhang Jiuliang. They forcibly took Yu Chunhai and his wife away, leaving two young grandchildren home without care. That same night, Yu Chunhai's second daughter and son-in-law were also abducted, but the son-in-law escaped in the darkness. The couple and their daughter were sent to the Zuojia Town Police Station. The next morning, Yu Chunhai escaped with righteous thoughts.

In order to avoid further persecution, Yu Chunhai had to leave home and wander around. However, later on he was arrested again and subjected to long-term detention and torture. No one ever knew where he had been detained.

On the night of November 14, 2003, several strangers brought Yu Chunhai, who was on the verge of death, back to Machang Village, whose residents hadn't seen him for a long time. The strangers dropped him off in a home and left. Three days later, Yu Chunhai passed away.