In a shocking incident on January 16, Liren Chen, a 27-year-old Google employee, was arrested in Santa Clara, California, for the alleged murder of his wife, Xuanyi Yu. The couple, both in their twenties, had recently purchased a home on Valley Way for $2.05 million.
Police responded to a welfare call at the residence around 11 am, prompted by a friend of Chen who expressed concern about the couple. Upon arrival, officers found Chen outside a bedroom, kneeling and staring blankly. Yu’s lifeless body was discovered inside the bedroom with severe blunt force injuries to her head.
Chen, described as being “spattered with blood,” had an “extremely swollen and purple arm.” Officers observed blood on his clothing, legs, arms, and hands, along with scratches on his arm. The gruesome scene led to the immediate arrest of Chen, who was reportedly unresponsive and motionless when officers arrived.
Chen, known for his work on the YouTube shorts algorithm at Google, and Yu, a software engineer, were both graduates of Tsinghua University in China and the University of California San Diego. The couple had purchased their home on Valley Way in April 2023.
Santa Clara District Attorney Jeff Rosen highlighted an increase in 911 calls related to domestic violence. While domestic violence deaths have been decreasing in the county, Rosen emphasized the unseen depth and destructiveness of such incidents. He urged anyone experiencing or witnessing abuse to contact local law enforcement for assistance.
A spokesperson for Google, Bailey Tomson, expressed shock and deep sadness over the incident. Tomson stated that the company is working to provide support to the victim’s family and colleagues as they process the tragic news.
District Attorney Rosen concluded by encouraging individuals facing abuse in their relationships to reach out to local law enforcement agencies, emphasizing that help is available. The incident underscores the importance of raising awareness about domestic violence and supporting those who may be in distress.
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