An 81-year-old woman was discovered dead and wedged face-first into the crevice of a pullout couch in San Diego after her daughters allegedly waited more than 18 hours to call for help, police said.
Background
Kun-Ying Yang had been living with her two adult daughters in an apartment on Genesee Avenue in the University City neighborhood of San Diego. Ingrid Wu, 51, and Rebecca Wu, 53, served as their parents' primary caregivers because Yang and her husband no longer retained the ability to care for themselves, according to the San Diego Police Department.
The family had been living together when the elderly couple required increasing levels of assistance with daily activities, authorities said. Neighbors and relatives were not aware of any formal caregiving arrangements or outside support services being used for the aging parents.
Yang's husband, 88 years old, also lived in the residence and relied on his daughters for care, police confirmed.
The Investigation
On March 6, a family member called 911 around midnight to report Yang unconscious and not breathing, according to the San Diego Police Department. Officers responded to the apartment and found the victim deceased — but her body was positioned in a disturbing manner that immediately raised concerns.
Inside the residence, police discovered Yang stuck in the gap between the pullout couch and its bed frame, investigators said. She was lying face-first in the crevice where she had apparently been trapped for an extended period.
We don't know how she got into awkward positioning, San Diego Police Lt. Christopher Leahy told the San Diego Union-Tribune. She clearly should not have been that position, and efforts were not made to remove her or get her appropriate medical care.
Investigators determined Yang had likely been in that position for at least 15 hours before being found, police said. The medical examiner later determined she died from positional asphyxia with neglect listed as a contributing factor.
A declaration by Officer Chelsea Ulibarri of the San Diego Police Department was filed in court detailing evidence gathered at the scene. Body-worn cameras recorded a conversation between the two sisters outside their apartment on the day authorities arrived, conducted in Mandarin and later translated by police investigators.
The translation revealed what prosecutors say is an alarming admission from Ingrid Wu, who allegedly stated she believed Yang had been lying in the same position for approximately 10 to 20 days. The declaration states Ingrid Wu admitted she only changed her mother's diapers and wiped her down rather than repositioning her or seeking medical attention.
Both sisters allegedly discussed finding their mother trapped at around 5:30 a.m. but waiting more than 18 hours before dialing 911, according to police accounts of the translated conversation.
Ingrid repeatedly stated they should have called 911 immediately and acknowledged they instead waited half a day until mom died to pick up the phone, the declaration reads.
The investigation also revealed the condition of Yang's elderly husband when emergency crews arrived. The 88-year-old man was found anemic and dehydrated and had to be hospitalized for several weeks, police said. He has since been placed in a long-term care facility.
Temporary restraining orders now prohibit the Wu sisters from contacting their father, court records show.
The suspects endangered their parents' health and failed to act as legally required, leading to the neglect of their 88-year-old father and the death of their mother, Leahy said.
The Charges
Ingrid Wu and Rebecca Wu were arrested last week on charges of first-degree murder in connection with Yang's death, according to police. They also face elder abuse charges related to allegations they neglected their elderly father.
The sisters appeared separately for arraignment proceedings in San Diego County Superior Court. Ingrid Wu was arraigned on Monday and released after surrendering her passport, agreeing not to leave California, and submitting to GPS monitoring as conditions of her release, according to NBC affiliate KNSD. Rebecca Wu is currently detained at the Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee and has a pending arraignment date.
Prosecutors allege the sisters failed to provide adequate care for their aging parents despite living with them full-time and serving as their designated caregivers. The first-degree murder charge reflects allegations that Yang's death resulted from a deliberate act of neglect rather than an accidental oversight, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the case.
Key Takeaways
- Kun-Ying Yang, 81, was discovered deceased in her San Diego apartment on March 6 after allegedly being left trapped face-first in a pullout couch for at least 15 hours
- Her daughters Ingrid Wu, 51, and Rebecca Wu, 53, have been charged with first-degree murder and elder abuse
- Police say the sisters waited more than 18 hours to call 911 after finding their mother trapped around 5:30 a.m.
- The medical examiner ruled Yang's death a homicide caused by positional asphyxia with neglect as a contributing factor
- One sister allegedly admitted in a translated conversation that she believed her mother had been in the same position for up to 20 days
- Their 88-year-old father was also found in need of emergency medical care and remains hospitalized
What's Next
The Wu sisters are awaiting further court proceedings in San Diego County Superior Court. Their attorneys have not publicly commented on the charges against them.
Investigators continue to examine evidence collected from the residence, including body camera footage and physical documentation from the scene. Authorities say additional details may emerge as the case moves toward preliminary hearings.
Yang's family has not issued a public statement regarding her death or the criminal proceedings against her daughters.