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Friends of poker player Susie Zhao mourn her brutal death

Friends of professional poker player Susie Zhao are ā€œheartbrokenā€ over her untimely death and can’t understand how she wound up dead in a Michigan park.

ā€œI can’t fathom this happening to anyone, least of all the always agreeable Susie that I knew,ā€ Meredith Rogowski, who met Zhao on the school bus in 6th grade, told The Post.

ā€œWe definitely want Susie to be remembered for the bold and carefree way she lived her life not her trš”‰agic end.ā€

Zhao, 33, who went by Susie Q in the poker world, was found dead and ā€œbadly burnedā€ on July 13 in a parking lot near PontiacšŸ™ˆ Lake Recreation Area in Oakland County, police said.

They’re investigating whether her profession as a poker player, which earned her at least $224,671 since 2009, had anything to do with her death, according to cops and an online poker database.

Rogowski said eꦬven at just ten-years-old, Zhao exuded ā€œan adventurous spirit and fearlessly pursued anything she wantedಌ in this world.ā€

ā€œShe had the intelligenc🌠e and charisma to succeed at whatever she chose to do,ā€ the friend went on.

ā€œApart from her high-stakes jet-setter persona, she was always a loyal andꩵ supportive friend. She meant so much to us. We are heartbroken.ā€

The last time the two spoke was a few weeks ago over Instagram messenger where Zhao provided few details šŸ”„on her recent move back to Michigan from Los Angeles.

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ā€œ[She] saišŸ”Æd she was exploring new opportunities, mentioned some poker tournaments out of state,ā€ Rogowski said.

ā€œShe was, as usual, very vaguešŸŒ about what she was up to in Michigan.ā€

A few years ago, the childhš“†ood pal went to Los Angeles and Las Vegas to visit Zhao in her natural habitat.

ā€œShe was so ex🧜cited to share her world with her childhood friends,ā€ Rogowski, whšŸ¦„o now lives in Japan, said.

ā€œShe showed us all the classic LA spots. Went to the Getty, hiking in Runyon canyon, the Hollywood improv, UCB, shopping in Melrose. Susie loved all of the good things in this world, laughing, dꦑancing, good food, travel, or just keeping iওt low key with her good friends.ā€

Another childhoošŸ…·d friend, Kinga Wierzbicka, took to Facebook to honor Zhao’s memļ·½ory.

ā€œWith tears in my eyes and grief in my heart, I share one of the hard♓est pieces of news I never thought I would have to share,ā€ Wierz🐬bicka wrote in an emotional post.

ā€œMy beautiful, intelligent, vibrant, and exuberant friend Susie left this world far too soon. I was not ready to say goodbye, none of us were, as she spread love and happiness to alšŸƒl who were lucky to encounter her in theiļ·½r lives.ā€

The friend of 22 years said their relationship blossomed from adoleā™Œscence into adulthood ā€œseamlesslyā€ and like the closest of friends, it didn’t matter how much time they spent apart, ā€œwe would always bounce back to where we were while never skipā­•ping a beat.ā€

ā€œHer aura and memory will forever be with me. I will never forget her. And I know all whoļ·½ knew and loved her feel the same,ā€ the friend c🌱ontinued.

ā€œSusie was always Susie. She was undeniably and apologetically herself. Always. My girl – Susie Q.ā€