Man Accused in Killings of Mistress' Boyfriend, Wife, and Mother-in-Law

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Howard Wang, a 44-year-old man from Walnut Creek, California, has been accused of conspiring with DeMarques Pearl, a 33-year-old alleged Crips gang member, to murder Chengli Li, the boyfriend of Wang's mistress Yan Wang, in June 2024. Prosecutors say Wang then went on to allegedly stab his own wife, Linlin Guo, and his mother-in-law, Beimin Cheng, inside their home in September 2025, in an effort to clear the way for him to be with Yan Wang.

Why it matters

This case highlights the extreme lengths some individuals will go to in order to be with their romantic partner, even if it means resorting to violence and murder. It also raises concerns about the potential involvement of gang members in orchestrating homicides, as well as the challenges law enforcement faces in unraveling complex, multi-jurisdictional criminal conspiracies.

The details

According to prosecutors, Wang allegedly paid Pearl to murder Li in San Gabriel in June 2024, and then Wang joined Pearl at the crime scene to lie in wait for the victim before Pearl fatally shot Li in an ambush. Thirteen months later, Wang allegedly used a knife to stab his wife Guo and his mother-in-law Cheng inside their Walnut Creek home, before calling 911 and claiming an intruder had attacked his family.

• On June 8, 2024, around 1:30 a.m., Pearl allegedly shot and killed Chengli Li outside his apartment in San Gabriel.
• In September 2025, Wang allegedly stabbed his wife Linlin Guo and his mother-in-law Beimin Cheng inside their Walnut Creek home.

What’s next

Both Howard Wang and DeMarques Pearl are due in court for an arraignment hearing on Monday afternoon.