Huangting Gong, a California man, executed his business associate Kuanlun Wang, whom he owed $80,000, along with Wang’s wife, Jing Li. Gong shot Wang in the head in the desert on Oct 12 and then drove his body to Wang’s home in Brea, where he lived with Li. He attacked Li with a hammer to get the passcode to her phone, put her in her own Tesla, and drove her to a desert area in San Bernardino where he shot her and burned her body. Gong then took Wang’s body to Riverside County, where he also burned it.
Gong also set fire to the couple’s Teslas in different parts of the desert after the murders. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer described these acts as depraved and callous. Gong returned to the couple’s home two days later and stole nearly $250,000 worth of luxury watches, shoes, handbags, and clothing. Wang had been reported missing by a family member on Oct. 15 after not hearing from him for several days. The family member contacted Gong, who claimed the victims had not shown up for a trip to New York City.
Gong’s actions began to arouse suspicion when Wang’s family had not heard of the supposed New York trip. After seeing a man on the patio at Wang and Li’s home, the family member contacted Gong, who denied that it was him and shut off access to the surveillance system. Gong was arrested by Brea Police at Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 5 upon his return from Seattle. He was charged with special circumstance murder, and an arraignment hearing has been scheduled for December 2 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana.
Following the arraignment hearing, the DA’s office will convene a special circumstances committee to determine whether to pursue the death penalty for Gong. The final decision will be made by District Attorney Todd Spitzer. The heinous nature of Gong’s crimes, which involved executing his business associate and his wife, as well as burning their bodies and cars in the desert, highlights the severity of his actions. Gong’s callousness and attempt to cover up the murders with theft and deception underscore the calculated nature of his crimes.
The details of the murders, including Gong’s transportation of the victims’ bodies in their own vehicles, demonstrate a chilling lack of regard for human life. Gong’s arrest and upcoming legal proceedings will shed light on the motivations behind these brutal crimes and seek justice for the victims and their families. The decision about whether to pursue the death penalty will be a crucial step in holding Gong accountable for his actions and ensuring that justice is served in this disturbing case.
