Warning: The details within this report are extremely disturbing and outline an incident in which the suspect is accused of domestic violence that resulted in the death of a woman. Please do not read this if you might find the details traumatizing.
Santa Clara police have arrested a 27-year-old Santa Clara man for allegedly murdering his wife. According to the Santa Clara Police Department (SCPD), officers responded to a home on Valley Way, just a few blocks from the corner of Homestead Road and Kiely Boulevard, around 11 a.m. on Jan. 16.
Police say they were responding to a welfare check called in by a family acquaintance. The acquaintance told police they could see Liren Chen inside the home. Chen was reportedly “motionless on his knees, had his hands in the air and was staring blankly.” The acquaintance told police Chen refused to answer the phone or his door and so the acquaintance called the police.
Officers say when they arrived at the home, they found Chen “spattered with blood, in his home, with his wife’s body nearby.”
Police arrested Chen at the scene. The police report says that a woman’s body was inside the bedroom directly behind where Chen had been standing. She had “severe blunt force injuries to her head.” Chen’s right hand was “extremely swollen and purple. He had blood on his clothing, legs, arms, and hands and scratches on his arm.”
Chen was booked on charges of murder. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, Jan. 24. However, that may change depending on his health. Chen was hospitalized following his arrest and has missed the past two arraignment dates because of that hospitalization.
Anyone with information about Chen, his wife or anything else related to the homicide is asked to contact SCPD Detective Sgt. Hagg at (408) 615-4814.
First Santa Clara Homicide Since 2020
This is the first homicide in Santa Clara in more than three years. The last time SCPD officers investigated a murder was on Aug. 15, 2020, when a man was attacked at the rear of a business on El Camino Real. The 41-year-old man was assaulted and robbed and later succumbed to his injuries.
Officers arrested Jesse Brito and Stacy Segelin less than 24 hours later. While Segelin’s case has been completed, and she is receiving mental health treatment, Brito’s case is still pending.
Domestic Violence Help
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are people who can help. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24/7 and available in English, Spanish and 200+ other languages through interpretation services. Please call (800) 799-7233 if you or someone you know needs help. You can also text START to 88788 for help or to simply talk to someone.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen says 911 calls about domestic violence have risen in Santa Clara County.
“Domestic violence deaths have been falling in our county but that does not measure the depth and destructiveness of the violence,” said Rosen.”Anyone who feels that they or someone else is being abused by their partners, please reach out your local law enforcement agency. You are not alone. We can help.”