Man accused of killing SoCal couple and burning their bodies over $80,000 debt

BREA, Calif. (TCN) -- A 30-year-old man stands accused of killing a couple and setting their remains on fire in the desert before stealing tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of their personal belongings.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, one of 37-year-old Kuanlun Wang’s relative grew worried when he hadn’t heard from the man for several days, which he claimed was "very unusual." Concerned about his whereabouts, the relative reportedly reached out to Wang’s business associate Huangting Gong, who said Wang and Wang’s wife, 37-year-old Jing Li, failed to show up for a trip to New York City.

Gong allegedly told the family member they were going to meet with another business associate who could give Wang $80,000, the amount Gong owed him. Wang’s family did not know about the alleged trip to New York.

According to prosecutors, Wang’s family member spoke with Gong again after seeing someone on Wang’s patio on surveillance footage on Oct. 14. However, Gong claimed it wasn’t him, and the relative’s access to the surveillance system was shut off. The following day, the family member reported Wang missing to the Brea Police Department and told authorities that Gong owed the victim $80,000.

Upon further investigation, authorities determined Gong met with Wang in the desert on Oct. 12 and allegedly shot him in the head. Prosecutors allege Gong drove Wang’s body back to his home in the victim’s Tesla. At Wang’s residence, Gong allegedly struck Li with a hammer as he forced her to provide her phone password.

According to the district attorney’s office, Gong placed Li in her own vehicle, drove her to a desert area in San Bernardino, and shot her before burning her remains. Gong allegedly went back to Brea to bring Wang’s body to a desert area in Riverside County, where he also set his body ablaze.

Gong reportedly stole the couple’s two Teslas and set them on fire in two separate desert areas as well. After killing and burning the victims’ remains, prosecutors said Gong went to the couple’s home on Oct. 14 and pilfered approximately $250,000 worth of watches, shoes, handbags, and clothes.

Police arrested Gong at the Los Angeles International Airport on Nov. 5 when he deplaned from a trip to Seattle. The district attorney’s office charged Gong with two felony counts of murder, one felony count of kidnapping, two felony counts of arson of property, and two felony counts of first-degree burglary. He also faces two felony special circumstances enhancements for committing multiple murders, one felony special circumstances enhancement for committing murder during the commission of kidnapping, and two felony enhancements for discharging a firearm causing death.

If convicted, Gong faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said, "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."

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