A tragic incident has unfolded in Santa Clara, where Liren Chen, a 27-year-old Google employee, has been charged with the murder of his wife, also a Google engineer. The event took place in their home, leading to police intervention and Chen’s arrest.
On January 16, police were called to a residence on Valley Way in Santa Clara. Upon arrival, they found Chen in a disoriented state, kneeling outside a bedroom where his wife lay deceased. The authorities described Chen as being covered in blood and displaying noticeable injuries, including a significantly swollen and purple arm.
The victim, believed to be Xuanyi Yu, also employed at Google as a software engineer, suffered severe blunt force injuries to her head. This was confirmed by the Santa Clara District Attorney’s office.
Chen’s arraignment has been postponed due to his hospitalization following the incident. The couple, both known to be software engineers at Google, had purchased a home in the area for $2.05 million in April of the previous year, as indicated by property records.
This case has brought attention to the issue of domestic violence. District Attorney Jeff Rosen pointed out the rise in 911 calls related to domestic violence incidents. He emphasized that despite a decrease in domestic violence deaths in the county, the severity and impact of such violence are profound. Rosen urged anyone experiencing or witnessing domestic abuse to seek help from local law enforcement agencies.
Google has expressed its condolences over the situation. Bailey Tomson, a spokesperson for the company, conveyed their shock and sadness at the loss of Xuanyi Yu. The company has pledged support for her family and colleagues during this difficult time.
Both Chen and Yu had impressive academic backgrounds, having studied at Tsinghua University in China and the University of California, San Diego. Chen’s LinkedIn profile reveals his work on YouTube’s shorts algorithm, while Yu’s profile lists her as a software engineer.
