Readers pour out their concern for Woodbury nanny

Every so often we write a story that instantly fuels reader emotions, inspiring an outpouring of public concern.

Such was the case with our recent coverage about a Chinese nanny in Woodbury who was allegedly beaten and held captive in one of the city's toniest neighborhoods.

The nanny's employer, Lili Huang, 35, was taken to jail and charged with five felonies while the 58-year-old nanny recovers in protective care.

The Star Tribune scooped everyone, breaking the story online. Within hours, the story was being reported in other major newspapers in the United States and England. The New York bureau of China Daily ran a story, as did the international edition of the South China Morning Post.

A Chinese immigrant living in Blaine, Sophie Liu-Othmer, said news of the nanny's plight raced like wildfire through WeChat, China's version of Twitter. It's also been the talk of Minnesota's Chinese-American community, which numbers about 40,000 people.

"The whole community feels so ashamed," said Liu-Othmer, who has lived in Minnesota for 30 years.

Liu-Othmer doesn't know the nanny — or Huang — but she's willing to open her home to an unnamed victim who, according to the complaint, was found by a police officer near starvation with fractures and other injuries.

One caller offered to donate his frequent flier miles so she could return to China, a wish she expressed to police. Others beside Liu-Othmer said they would open their homes to her.

Many people wanted to talk with the nanny. Others asked if a fund had been created to pay her expenses. I don't know of one.

Washington County leaders received similar inquiries. County Attorney Pete Orput said this is what people should know:

"We're going to take very good care of this woman. We fully intend, upon conclusion of the criminal case, to make sure she's reunited with her family in China."

The nanny remains in a "safe place," receiving medical care, and will live at an abuse shelter until the case is resolved, Orput said.

Her attorney, Daniel Le, said Huang "categorically denies the false allegations levied by a family friend and will be vindicated through our system of justice."

To Liu-Othmer, it's important that no one else from China is isolated from the mainstream community as the nanny was.

"As more Chinese immigrants come to this country, both sides have responsibility to reach out to each other before bigger problems happen," she said.