A decade has elapsed since the untimely murder of Xiaojia "Grace" Chen, an esteemed Austin teacher and mother, with the case remaining unsolved despite years of investigative efforts. Chen's life was brutally cut short on February 19, 2014, found dead within the confines of a locked private bathroom at her teaching studio located in the Galleria Oaks shopping center, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman. Her murder continues to cast a shadow over the community, generating concern and gripping fear, particularly among Austin's Asian American residents.

At the time of her death, Chen had just returned from San Francisco, where she visited her son, Jacky Chen, who was later informed by his ex-girlfriend of his mother's demise. According to details from KVUE, while there have been multiple leads and suspicions, including over her then-husband Robert Liu, no arrests have been made. Liu has declined to comment on the story, and the case remains positioned as an "active investigation" by the Austin Police Cold Case Unit.

Chen's death ruled a homicide, bore "obvious trauma," yet the exact circumstances and motive behind the killing remain shrouded in mystery. The lack of resolution has prompted annual inquiries by community members, with Amy Wong Mok, CEO and founder of the Austin Asian American Cultural Center, persistently reaching out to city leaders for updates. She expressed the community's longing for closure in a statement obtained by the Austin American Statesman, "The violent crime against Grace is never going to leave us until we get closure."

The pursuit for answers continues for Jacky Chen, who has since married and still cherishes the memory of his mother, her voice, most of all. Reflecting on his loss, he confided in an interview with the Austin American-Statesman about the enduring pain that he experiences recalling the tragedy: "But every time when I think of this, it feels like I'm dragged back to the moment right when I found out that she was murdered because there’s … no justice." The lingering uncertainty around the case has notably prevented him from returning to Austin, a sentiment similarly voiced to KVUE.

Although time presses on, the unanswered question, of who killed Grace Chen, haunts her loved ones and the larger community. Authorities prompt anyone with information about the case to approach them, providing tips anonymously if necessary. Information can be shared by calling Austin Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS or through the group's website, as per Austin American Statesman instructions. Ten years have passed, but for the family of Grace Chen, time has done little to heal the wound left by an unsolved act of violence that took so much from them.