WALNUT CREEK, CA – A devastating incident has left Walnut Creek residents grieving after a mother and her elderly mother were brutally killed, allegedly by the woman’s estranged husband. The tragic event has galvanized community support for the family’s young daughters, now left without their mother and grandmother.
Lucy Chen, a friend of the family for many years, is heartbroken over the deaths of Lin Lin Guo and her 70-year-old mother, Cheng. The two women were found fatally stabbed, and Guo’s eight-year-old twin daughters have been placed in foster care, with their long-term future uncertain.
Howard Wong, 43, has been charged with their murders. Police say he attacked his wife and mother-in-law and then falsely claimed that an intruder was responsible for the killings. This violent act occurred in their home, leaving the community in shock.
Chen shared that Guo had confided in her about her troubled marriage, expressing her misery and desire to leave Wong. Although he filed for divorce last year, Wong later dropped the case. In a chilling development, authorities revealed that Wong threatened Guo in August 2024.
Adding complexity to the case, Wong’s girlfriend faces charges for allegedly destroying evidence to help cover up the crime. As the legal process unfolds, Chen is determined to remember her friend and her friend’s mother as sources of quiet strength and love.
Guo had ambitions of becoming a beautician to empower other women, even as she faced her own challenges. In her honor, Chen has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to aid with funeral costs and to support the orphaned twins.
Chen hopes to reach out to others who might be suffering in silence, reassuring them they are not alone. The community’s response has been one of unity and compassion, as they come together to support the young girls in their time of need.