Husband had help killing his mistress' ex-boyfriend, but saved slitting the throats of his wife and mother-in-law for himself: DA

Cops successful California accidental a 44-year-old antheral drove with a hired slayer from the Bay Area to Los Angeles to execution his romanticist rival much than a twelvemonth earlier helium fatally stabbed his woman and mother-in-law.

Howard Wang was charged connected Monday with the execution of Chengli Li, who was gunned down successful San Gabriel connected June 8, 2024, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said. Wang already was facing 2 execution charges successful the September 2025 slayings of Linlin Guo and his mother-in-law Beimin Cheng.

Prosecutors accidental Li was antecedently dating Wang's mistress, 45-year-old Yan Wang, who is not related to the suspect. Howard Wang and 33-year-old Demarques James Pearl allegedly drove from the San Francisco country to San Gabriel connected June 7, 2024, with the intent to execution Li. The Press Democrat reports that Pearl, an alleged subordinate of the Crips gang, is simply a deed man. The adjacent day, Pearl changeable Li dormant extracurricular his flat portion Howard Wang served arsenic a getaway driver, according to authorities.

Over a twelvemonth later, Howard Wang allegedly killed Guo and Cheng connected Sept. 18 astatine their location connected the 100 artifact of Kelobra Court successful Walnut Creek. Cops told Bay Area CBS affiliate KPIX that Wang slit the victims' throats and past told investigators helium changeable astatine a fleeing intruder whom helium blamed for the killings. There was reportedly different big and 2 children astatine the location astatine the clip of the slayings but they were not hurt.

Howard Wang was arrested implicit a week aboriginal and has been successful the Contra Costa County Jail ever since. Since the readying of the execution occurred successful Contra Costa County, the lawsuit volition beryllium prosecuted there, officials said. Pearl is acceptable to beryllium arraigned connected Wednesday portion Howard Wang volition look earlier a justice connected April 14.

As Law&Crime previously reported, cops besides arrested Yan Wang connected charges of accessory aft the fact, residential burglary and destroying evidence.

Prosecutors allege Yan Wang tried to assistance her fellow "avoid arrest, trial, conviction, and punishment" for the slayings of his woman and mother-in-law. She besides is accused of destroying cellphones to "prevent grounds from being produced." She allegedly broke into the location wherever Howard Wang and Guo lived with "intent to perpetrate larceny" the time aft the murders.

Cops arrested her connected Sept. 24 adjacent her location successful Oakland. She besides remains successful the Contra Costa County Jail.

Authorities accidental Howard Wang threatened to termination his woman successful August 2024 and prevented her from reporting different transgression to cops connected Jan. 7, 2023. Police did not grow connected those allegations, nor person officials divulged a motive for the alleged murders.

Local Fox affiliate KTVU reported that astatine Howard Wang's archetypal appearance, determination was a carnal altercation betwixt Yan Wang and Linlin Guo's household members aft the defendant's mistress showed up successful court. The station, citing tribunal documents, besides said that Howard Wang filed for divorcement successful January 2024 but sought to person the substance dismissed months later.

"This lawsuit serves arsenic a sobering reminder of domestic violence's far-reaching consequences," Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton said successful a statement. "Our bureau volition prosecute justness with the seriousness and urgency this calamity demands."