Privileged 'Nepo‑Baby' Student Convicted of Killing His Girlfriend
Joshua Michals, a 26-year-old American film student from a wealthy Chicago family, was convicted on Dec. 8, 2025, for the brutal stabbing death of his girlfriend, Zhe Wang, in her London apartment the previous year. The case, which unfolded in London's Old Bailey court, revealed a grim story that challenges the notion that privilege and wealth shield individuals from violence. Instead, it exposed a shocking and callous crime behind the veneer of a "nepo-baby" lifestyle.
A Promising Life Shattered
Michals was described by friends as having "everything going for him," as reported by the New York Post. Growing up in a $600,000 home in Bloomingdale, Illinois, he seemed to have a bright future ahead. He moved to London in September 2023 to pursue a master's degree in filmmaking at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he met Wang, a 31-year-old creative writing student from China who aspired to become a teacher. Their relationship was casual and intermittent, lasting about six months, but it was marked by tension and mistrust, especially surrounding health concerns.
The Fatal Argument
The fatal incident occurred on March 20, 2024, after an argument sparked by Wang's suspicion that Michals had given her a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Wang had asked Michals multiple times to get tested for STIs, a request that became a growing source of tension between them. She reportedly told Michals she would rather die than live with an STI and expressed deep frustration over the situation, even accusing him of ruining her life.
On the day of the killing, Michals brought food to Wang's apartment, intending to make a charcuterie board to calm her down. However, the situation escalated. Michals claimed Wang attacked him with a kitchen knife as he came out of the bathroom, leading to a struggle during which he stabbed her in the face and applied pressure to her neck. Wang was left dying in a pool of blood on her bedroom floor, suffering stab wounds and compression to the neck that proved fatal.
A Callous Aftermath
What makes this case particularly disturbing is Michals' behavior after the attack. Instead of calling emergency services immediately, he hid incriminating evidence by discarding Wang's phone and the food he had brought in a trash bag outside the apartment complex. He then took an Uber back to his own flat in the leafy Greenwich neighborhood of London. Michals waited nearly four hours before calling the police, during which time Wang would have been alive but helpless.
Adding to the grim picture, Michals reportedly called his father, David Michals, a Chicago-based vice president of sales at a French-owned lighting company, to seek legal advice and help securing a solicitor. This call was made while Wang lay dying, underscoring a shocking lack of urgency or remorse. Michals' parents, who privately funded his defense and traveled to London for the trial, represent the privileged backdrop against which this tragedy unfolded.
The Trial and Verdict
During the trial, Michals denied murder, claiming self-defense. He said he did not intend to kill Wang but only wanted to get her away from him during the knife attack. He also claimed that Wang, described as a germaphobe, had become stressed and irrational after believing she had contracted an STI. Michals admitted to pressing his forearm to her neck to restrain her but denied any intent to cause serious harm.
The jury, after 16 and a half hours of deliberation, rejected Michals' defense and found him guilty of murder. The judge reportedly praised the jury system and thanked them for their service. Michals' conviction serves as a stark reminder that wealth and privilege do not excuse violent behavior or shield perpetrators from justice.
Beyond the Headlines: A Dark Reality Behind Privilege
This case challenges the often-glamorized image of "nepo babies" — individuals born into privilege who seemingly have every advantage handed to them. Michals' story reveals that beneath the surface of wealth and opportunity can lie disturbing realities, including violence and moral failure. His friends expressed shock, describing him as a "chill dude" who never showed signs of violence, as reported by the New York Post, highlighting how appearances can be deceiving.
This case is a sobering reminder that violence can emerge in any social stratum and that privilege does not grant immunity from accountability. It also underscores the importance of vigilance and awareness in relationships, especially when warning signs like mistrust and accusations of dishonesty arise.
References: Wealthy nepo baby who killed girlfriend in London had 'everything going for him,' shocked friend says | She Asked Him to Get Tested for STDs. Then He Killed Her - and Called His Dad for a Lawyer as She Lay Dying | American student at Goldsmiths murdered girlfriend after STD row
