A California man named Howard Wang has been accused of murdering his wife and mother-in-law, as well as getting his alleged mistress to destroy evidence of the crime.
Wang, 43, is facing charges including two counts of murder with special circumstances enhancements, dissuading a witness for reporting a crime and making criminal threats of death and great bodily injury for incidents that involved his late wife, Linlin Guo, according to a release from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.
Guo and her mother, Beimin Cheng, were both found dead with their throats slit inside the family’s home in Walnut Creek, California, in September. Guo and Howard’s twin daughters, 8, were also home at the time of the deaths.
Howard allegedly told police that an intruder had killed his wife and mother-in-law before they managed to escape, while the suspect also said he fired multiple bullets at the alleged intruder.
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Howard was booked into custody about a week later, while police also arrested Yan Wang after the DA’s office discovered she was romantically involved with Howard and allegedly tried to help him get away with the murder.
Yan – who is not related to Howard despite sharing a last name – has been charged with destroying evidence, being an accessory after the fact and first-degree residential burglary, per the DA’s office.
She “allegedly aided Howard Wang with knowledge following the murders and with intent to help him avoid arrest, trial, conviction and punishment for killing his wife,” the DA’s office said.
Yan has also been accused of entering Howard’s home after the murders took place with the intention of committing larceny and destroying cellphones to prevent evidence from being discovered.
It has since been revealed that Yan got into a physical altercation with a member of the victim’s family, according to KTVU. Deputies eventually had to get involved in order to break up the fight.
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“This case serves as a sobering reminder of domestic violence’s far-reaching consequences,” Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said in a statement about the matter. “Our office will pursue justice with the seriousness and urgency this tragedy demands.”
Howard could face life in prison if he is convicted of the murders, while he’s currently being held without bail.
It does not yet appear that Howard or Yan have pleaded in the case.
