Bay Area man charged with triple murder, including wife and mother-in-law

Howard Wang faces additional charges for 2024 Los Angeles killing of his mistress's boyfriend

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:05am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered car windshield against a pitch-black background, the cracked glass reflecting a faint red light, conceptually illustrating the violence and aftermath of a crime.The violent aftermath of a domestic dispute exposes the complex web of relationships and escalating tensions that can lead to tragedy.Los Angeles Today

A 43-year-old Walnut Creek man, Howard Wang, has been charged with murdering his wife, Linlin Guo, and mother-in-law, Beimin Cheng, in September 2025. Wang is now also facing charges for the June 2024 killing of Chengli Li, the boyfriend of Wang's mistress, Yan Wang, in Los Angeles County.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex web of relationships and violence that can occur when domestic disputes escalate. It also raises questions about how law enforcement handles cases involving multiple jurisdictions and the challenges of prosecuting such intricate criminal cases.

The details

According to authorities, on September 19, 2025, Howard Wang killed his wife and mother-in-law by slashing their throats in their Walnut Creek home. Wang then concocted a story about an intruder being responsible. His mistress, Yan Wang, was later arrested for attempting to help him avoid arrest by destroying evidence. Prosecutors now allege that in June 2024, Howard Wang and a second suspect, Demarques James Pearl, traveled from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County and killed Chengli Li, who was Yan Wang's boyfriend at the time.

  • On September 19, 2025, Howard Wang allegedly killed his wife and mother-in-law in Walnut Creek.
  • On September 30, 2025, Yan Wang was arrested and charged as an accessory after the fact.
  • On June 7, 2024, Wang and Pearl allegedly traveled from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County.
  • On June 8, 2024, Li was shot and killed in San Gabriel, Los Angeles County.

The players

Howard Wang

A 43-year-old Walnut Creek man charged with murdering his wife and mother-in-law in 2025, and now also charged with the 2024 murder of his mistress's boyfriend in Los Angeles County.

Linlin Guo

Howard Wang's wife, who was killed in September 2025.

Beimin Cheng

Howard Wang's mother-in-law, who was killed in September 2025 along with her daughter, Linlin Guo.

Yan Wang

Howard Wang's mistress, who was arrested for attempting to help him avoid arrest after the 2025 murders.

Chengli Li

Yan Wang's boyfriend, who was killed in June 2024 in Los Angeles County.

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What’s next

Howard Wang and Demarques James Pearl are scheduled to be arraigned in Martinez, California, with Wang's arraignment set for April 14 and Pearl's for April 1.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the need for better understanding and intervention in domestic violence situations, as well as the challenges of prosecuting crimes that span multiple jurisdictions. It also raises questions about the role of extramarital affairs in fueling violence and the importance of addressing mental health and relationship issues before they escalate.