【ANN NEWS, DIAMOND BAR】 A jury has reached a verdict in the 2023 double homicide at an elderly care facility in Diamond Bar, Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced on August 28 that caregiver Jianchun Li was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. During the subsequent sanity phase of the trial, the jury found that Li was legally sane at the time of the crimes, rejecting his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Li now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. His formal sentencing is scheduled for September 3 at the Pomona courthouse.
Two Elderly Residents Killed During Night Shift
According to details released by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the killings occurred on June 24, 2023. At the time, Li was working as an overnight caregiver at Happy Home Care for Elderly in Diamond Bar. Shortly before 7 a.m., 75-year-old resident Monica Moon Lee, who used a walker, was taken by Li into a bathroom. Prosecutors said Li then placed a plastic bag over her head and wrapped electrical tape around her neck, strangling her to death.
About 30 minutes later, another resident, 83-year-old Hee Sook Park, was taken by Li into the same bathroom and killed in the same manner.
Firefighters later arrived at the scene and attempted lifesaving measures, but both elderly residents were ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
Convicted of Two Counts of First-Degree Murder
Following the trial, a Los Angeles County jury found Li guilty on August 20 of two counts of first-degree murder and also found true the special circumstance of multiple murders. The case then proceeded to the sanity phase of the trial. On August 27, the jury returned a further verdict finding that Li was legally sane when he committed the crimes, rejecting his plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in announcing the verdict that the two elderly victims had been entrusted to Li’s care, but their lives were taken by the very person who was supposed to protect them. He also thanked the jury for holding Li accountable and expressed hope that the verdict would bring some measure of comfort to the victims’ families and the Diamond Bar community.
The case was prosecuted by the Elder Abuse Section of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s White Collar Crime Division and investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Happy Home Care for Elderly, where the killings occurred. (Image source: Mirador Living)
Care Facility Later Fined $30,000
In addition to the criminal case, the elderly care facility involved was later penalized by California regulators. Public regulatory records from the California Department of Social Services show that Happy Home Care for Elderly, located at 23801 Sapphire Canyon Road in Diamond Bar, is a residential care facility for the elderly licensed for a capacity of just six residents.
In September 2024, after completing its investigation into the double homicide, the California Department of Social Services determined that the facility had committed violations that resulted in the deaths of the two residents and imposed civil penalties totaling $30,000, calculated at $15,000 for each resident who died.
Sentencing Set for September 3
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Li currently faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. His formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 3.
The District Attorney’s Office also reminded the public that anyone who suspects an elderly or dependent adult is experiencing physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect should promptly report it to local law enforcement or call the Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Hotline at 1-877-477-3646 for assistance.
