Aahana Swrup
‘Con Mum’ is a documentary that revolves around the reunion between a son and her long-lost mother that ended in an unfortunate deceit. It followed a pastry chef, Graham Hornigold, who received an unanticipated email from a woman who goes by Dionne Marie Hannah, who claimed to be his biological mother, whom he never knew. As their relationship grew with an instantaneous spark, the woman made more claims about her supposed terminal illness and the multi-million dollar inheritance she wished to leave behind for her son. Thus, the duo traveled to Zurich, Switzerland, keeping up with Dionne’s expensive tastes.
Little did Hornigold know that the lavish hotel in Zurich had become another hunting ground for more victims of the older woman’s alleged fraud schemes. Thus, Junyan Liu and Markus Blunder—a couple looking for investors to support their startup dreams—entered the picture. Much like Hornigold, at the end of their acquaintance with Dionne, the duo also found themselves duped out of a large sum of money.
Junyan Liu Enjoys Travelling the World
When Junyan Liu met Dionne in Zurich in late 2020, she was looking for other entrepreneurs to invest in her startup business. She wanted to open a marketplace for high-end products akin to Amazon on a smaller scale. After Dionne approached her and asked about her business, she expressed her interest in becoming one of the investors. She shared her alleged connection to the Sultan of Brunei and got Liu and her partner, Markus Blunder, in contact with her impressive lawyer and banker. In the end, the couple claims she ended up signing a contract of 2.5 million Swiss francs for 20% of their company.
Over the course of their acquaintance, Liu and Blunder apparently spent more than 100 thousand dollars on Dionne while also forming personal bonds with her. The latter insisted on calling Liu her “granddaughter,” instilling a trustworthy connection. Nonetheless, eventually, she disappeared from the couple’s life with no warning. Dionne never followed up on her multi-million dollar investment contract, essentially converting Liu and Blunder’s financial and emotional investment into her as a sunken cost. Still, despite the shock of the events, the couple have decided to do their best to move forward.
Years later, Liu seems to be enjoying her best life. Although there is no update on her marketplace startup, she continues to put her best foot forward. Recently, she seems to be indulging in worldly hobbies, hopping all around the globe. In 2024, she traveled all around China, Korea, and Spain before settling back in Vienna, Austria. She also took a trip to Munich, Germany, where she visited local cafes, restaurants, and tourist sights. Finally, for the second half of the year, she found herself in California’s West Hollywood. Thus, it seems Liu has put the past behind her and continues to look forward to a bright future ahead.
Markus Blunder is Looking Forward to Many Future Projects
Similar to his partner Junyan Liu, Markus Blunder also seems to have moved on from his encounter with Dionne and is focused on the future. He continues to serve as the CEO of Dreamrunner Pictures, pursuing his career as a filmmaker and content creator. Although there haven’t been any new releases since his previous well-received 2013 directorial ‘Autumn Blood,’ he seems to have multiple projects in development. Reportedly, his documentary ‘Ghost Ships’ is in post-production, while ‘The Hidden,’ a crime film, and ‘Cross Your Heart,’ a fantasy drama, are both in development. Blunder serves as a director, writer, and producer on all three films.
Alternatively, the filmmaker seems to prefer his personal life under wraps. He doesn’t have any official public social media accounts and offers little updates for his fans. Even so, it seems that Blunder and Liu may still be together in a relationship since the filmmaker was accompanied by his partner on a family vacation in Austria’s Kufstein, Tyrol. The couple hasn’t shared the story of their experience with Dionne elsewhere, save for ‘Con Mum.’ Ultimately, they continue chasing after their dreams, undeterred by the obstacles they have faced so far on their journey.
Read More: Heather Kaniuk: Where is Graham Hornigold’s Ex-Partner Now?
