MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Episode Title: The Job Offer
Release Date: April 17, 2025
Host/Author: Ballen Studios

Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "The Job Offer," the MrBallen Podcast delves into a chilling true-crime story set in the small Chinese city of Naha. This tale intertwines personal tragedy, sinister motives, and a series of mysterious disappearances that plagued the community in the early 1990s.

Background: Naha's Dark Times

Timestamp: 02:37

Naha, a relatively obscure city in northeastern China with a population of 70,000, became infamous in the late 1980s and early 1990s due to a disturbing spike in disappearances. Initially, the victims were primarily sex workers, but the pattern soon shifted to include men as well. This unexplained phenomenon left both residents and authorities baffled.

Host (C): "Naha was just kind of boring... but in the last few months leading up to this moment that Sue is sitting at this train station, the city of Naha had suddenly been put on the map."

The Vanishing: Sue's Story

Timestamp: 02:37 - 10:55

At the heart of the mystery is Su Lisha, a 26-year-old kindergarten teacher experiencing turmoil in her personal life. After a heated argument with her husband, Sue impulsively leaves her home, finding herself alone and vulnerable at a deserted train station in Naha. It's here that her fate takes a dark turn.

Sue (C): "She couldn't help but feel like she had made a bad decision. Being here, she felt like she could easily become the next woman who went missing from Naha."

While contemplating her next steps, Sue encounters Jia Jia Wang, a charismatic and impeccably dressed man who offers her solace and a promising job opportunity. Their interaction seems genuine, leading Sue to trust him despite her reservations.

However, what appears to be a glimmer of hope quickly descends into horror. Jia invites Sue to his beautifully maintained home, where he offers her tea that is laced with a potent drug. Unbeknownst to Sue, this act is the beginning of her entrapment.

Host (C): "He grabbed Sue, and he pulled her up and out of this pit inside of his basement."

Sue awakens in a terrifying environment— a dark pit filled with decaying bodies. Jia proposes a horrifying choice: help him continue his gruesome activities, or remain trapped and face a grim fate.

Police Investigation and Unraveling the Truth

Timestamp: 10:55 - 21:55

As the disappearances continue, Officer Zhang becomes suspicious of the growing number of missing persons connected to Naha's train stations. Despite the initial assumption that the victims were simply leaving town, the inclusion of male victims compels the police to take the matter seriously.

Host (B): "Officer Zhang knew that this missing man and all these missing women went missing from the same place, and it's the same city and it's the same pattern over and over again."

In October 1991, during a routine public safety check at a train station 1,700 miles from Naha, Officer Zhang's team intercepts Jia along with two accomplices carrying illegal drugs. The interrogation reveals a shocking confession from one of the accomplices, linking Jia to the abductions and murders.

Host (C): "One of the interrogators... gave them a blanket and said, here, you know, take this blanket. Relax, it's okay, you can tell me what's on your mind. It's okay."

This breakthrough leads the authorities to Jia's home, where they discover the gruesome truth: a basement pit containing 42 bodies. Additionally, a videotape surfaces, showing Sue in the act of committing murder under Jia's coercion.

The Horrifying Conclusion

Timestamp: 21:55 - 31:16

The investigation culminates in the arrest of Jia Wang and his accomplices, including Sue. It is revealed that Jia manipulated his victims by offering them work opportunities, only to trap them and force them into participating in his killing spree. The discovery of the pit and the videotape solidifies the evidence against him.

Host (C): "Jia and all four of his forced accomplices, including Sue, were sentenced to death. And they were executed on January 24, 1992."

The city of Naha remains scarred by these events, earning the moniker "Bandit City" as a grim reminder of the atrocities that occurred.

Notable Quotes

• Host (C) – Sue’s Decision:

  "I just felt like, you know, there's something sincere about this guy, and I felt like I could trust him." [04:25]

• Officer Zhang on the Disappearances:

  "Now, nobody to this day understands why Sue actually went along with this... she just did what Gia wanted without asking any questions." [28:50]

• Host (C) – The Pit Discovery:

  "They couldn't see anything. It's totally dark. But the smell at this point was so overpowering that a couple of the officers almost fainted." [17:45]

Conclusion

"The Job Offer" is a haunting exploration of manipulation, fear, and the depths of human depravity. Through Sue's tragic story and the relentless pursuit by Officer Zhang, the MrBallen Podcast paints a vivid picture of the horrors that unfolded in Naha. This episode serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly desperation can lead to unimaginable consequences and the importance of vigilance in the face of sinister intentions.

Note: While the story is based on true events, certain names and details may have been altered for privacy and dramatic effect.