A 19-year-old man from Glendale, California, Huangting Gong, is facing serious charges for allegedly murdering a couple from Orange County to whom he owed $80,000. Prosecutors claim that Gong executed the couple separately in the desert, burned their bodies and their Teslas to conceal his crimes.
The victims, Kuanlun Wang and his wife, Jing Li, both 37, were allegedly killed by Gong in October. According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Gong first met with Wang in the Southern California desert on October 12. It is believed that during this meeting, Gong shot Wang in the head over the money he owed him.
After allegedly killing Wang, Gong is accused of placing his body in Wang’s Tesla and driving it back to Wang’s home in Brea. There, he encountered Li. Prosecutors claim that Gong attacked Li with a hammer, forced her to give him her phone’s password, and then put her in her own Tesla. He is then believed to have driven her to a desert area in San Bernardino, where he shot her and burned her body.
Gong is also accused of returning to Wang’s home to retrieve his body and burn it in a desert area in Riverside County. Prosecutors allege that Gong then set the two Teslas on fire in different desert areas. On October 14, Gong allegedly returned to the couple’s home and stole nearly $250,000 worth of watches, shoes, handbags, and clothing.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed his outrage over the alleged crimes, stating, “Depravity does not adequately describe the callousness involved to kill a human being and then drive around in the victim’s own car with his body inside in order to carry out the rest of his plan.”
A family member of the victims, who had been trying to contact them, reportedly spotted Gong on Wang’s home surveillance system on October 14. Gong denied it was him, and shortly after, the family member’s access to the surveillance system was cut off. This family member also informed investigators about the $80,000 debt Gong allegedly owed Wang.
Gong was arrested on November 5 while returning home from a trip to Seattle. He faces multiple felony charges, including two counts of murder, one count of kidnapping, two counts of arson, two counts of first-degree burglary, and several special circumstances enhancements. If convicted, Gong could face a maximum life sentence without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.
Gong is scheduled to be arraigned on December 2 in Santa Ana.