Death of Zayn Rayyan

Disappearance and discovery

On December 5, 2023, Zayn Rayyan bin Abdul Matiin, a six-year-old child with autism, was reported missing at 6:36 pm after last being seen playing in his school uniform in the Damansara Damai area of Selangor, Malaysia. His family and local media circulated appeals for information. On the evening of December 6, local police worked alongside hundreds of apartment residents on search-and-rescue efforts, including door-to-door searches of the surrounding neighborhood. That night, residents found Zayn dead near a riverbank in nearby bushes, approximately 200 meters from where he had last been seen by his mother.

Investigation findings

Forensic investigators later confirmed that Zayn had been murdered. Evidence indicated he was believed to have been strangled, based on injuries to his neck, and he also had injuries consistent with self-defense. No signs of abuse were detected on his body. Following these findings, police established a special task force to investigate the case. Zayn's body was buried on December 7, 2023, following the post-mortem examination.

Investigators noted that the area where his body was discovered had reportedly been searched multiple times earlier by search parties without the body being found, leading police to speculate that Zayn was killed elsewhere and his body was later moved to the discovery site. Subsequent investigations continued in the surrounding area in an effort to locate additional evidence. Early in the investigation, authorities suggested that only one suspect was believed to be involved.

Arrests and further inquiries

On May 31, 2024, at 10:05 am, Zayn's parents were arrested in Puncak Alam and remanded until June 7, 2024, to assist with the ongoing investigation. On June 3, 2024, at 1:58 pm, three additional individuals — including Zayn's former babysitter — were called to the Petaling Jaya police headquarters to assist with the inquiry.

As of the available reporting, the case record does not indicate that any individual has been formally charged or convicted in connection with Zayn's death; the parents' arrest was described as being for the purpose of assisting the investigation.