Kenny Wu, 37, was convicted by an Indio jury of two counts of first-degree murder for stabbing his wife Yaying “YaYa” Wu, 31, and her lover Jesus Sanchez, 30, to death in the parking lot of a SpringHill Suites hotel in Palm Desert, California, on July 15, 2022. Prosecutors proved the killings stemmed from Wu’s stalking, domestic violence, and rage after YaYa demanded a divorce amid her affair with Sanchez, which Wu had discovered months earlier.
Incident Timeline
Deputies responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon around 6:55 a.m., finding both victims dead from multiple stab wounds; Wu was nearby with self-inflicted blunt force injuries, treated at a hospital before arrest. Surveillance video confirmed Wu waited for the pair’s rendezvous, confronted them, and exploded in a knife attack without fleeing afterward.
Trial Outcome
Wu’s defense admitted jealousy-fueled rage but argued forgiveness attempts; prosecutors emphasized accountability for premeditated acts, including prior assaults noted by YaYa’s mother, who feared he wanted to “kill them.” Sentencing is set for April 17, 2026.
