– by Jim Emerson
WALNUT CREEK, CA — Howard C. Wang, a 43-year-old Walnut Creek resident, faces life in prison if he convicted of murdering his wife and mother-in-law. Wang was arrested September 19 on suspicion of committing this tragic double-homicide.
The two murders occurred at 102 Kelobra Court in Walnut Creek on September 18. Police responded to a report of gunfire there at 11:45 p.m. “Upon arrival, officers discovered the women deceased inside the residence,” Walnut Creek police said in a prepared statement.
The suspect was placed under arrest several hours after the victims’ lifeless bodies were found. Wang allegedly killed his wife Linlin Guo and mother-in-law Beimin Cheng on the same night.
Police transported and booked Wang into the Martinez Detention Facility. He remains in custody at the jailhouse ineligible for release on bond.
An arrest records search indicates that Wang was previously arrested in January of 2023 on suspicion of spousal abuse and preventing a victim from utilizing a wireless communication device to summon assistance or law enforcement, however it is unclear whether he was ever formally charged in relation to that incident.
Wang is currently charged with two counts of murder. His charges include enhancements for multiple murders, said a prepared statement from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office. “If found guilty by a jury, Wang could be sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole.”
Wang also faces charges for making criminal threats of death and great bodily injury to his mother-in-law. Plus, he is charged with dissuading his wife from reporting another crime that she evidently witnessed.
Walnut Creek police investigated the murders with help from Concord police and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. This investigation remains active. Anyone with information can contact the Walnut Creek Police Department at 925-943-5844.
