The 2010 double murder of Freehold Borough restaurant owners Yao Chen and Yun Juan Chen reached a grim conclusion Thursday with the conviction of Zeng Liang Chen, a 25-year-old New York City resident. This brutal crime, marked by extreme violence and a calculated robbery, shocked the Freehold community and led to a complex investigation culminating in Chen’s guilty verdict.
Around 5 p.m. on June 16, 2010, a passing motorist alerted Freehold Borough police to an injured man on South Street. Officers discovered Yao Chen, 39, lying in the street in front of his home, hands bound and suffering from profuse bleeding due to multiple stab wounds to his neck and abdomen. He was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Inside the Chen family’s South Street residence, police made a horrifying discovery: the lifeless body of Yao Chen’s 28-year-old sister, Yun Juan Chen, also a victim of multiple stab wounds.
Yao Chen and Yun Juan Chen in court
While responding to the initial scene, police received a report of two men on Main Street who appeared to have been involved in an altercation. Freehold Township Police Department quickly located and apprehended the two individuals near Route 9, identified as Dong Biao Lin, then 28, and Zeng Liang Chen, then 25, both of Manhattan. Authorities confirmed that Zeng Liang Chen was not related to the victims.
The ensuing investigation revealed a disturbing connection between Lin and the victims. Lin had previously worked at a Freehold-area restaurant owned by the Chen family. Authorities determined that Lin and Chen had broken into the victims’ home, believing it contained a substantial amount of cash.
Inside the residence, a violent confrontation ensued. Lin and Chen attacked both Yao and Yun Juan Chen before fleeing the scene. Autopsies later revealed the horrific extent of the violence: Yao Chen suffered 74 stab wounds, while his sister Yun Juan Chen endured 80 stab wounds.
In January 2014, Dong Biao Lin pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree felony murder. As part of his plea agreement, Lin agreed to testify against Zeng Liang Chen.
During Chen’s month-long trial before Superior Court Judge Anthony J. Mellaci, Jr., Lin’s testimony provided chilling details about the crime. Lin confessed to inflicting the fatal stab wounds but implicated Chen in the planning and execution of the robbery and murders. He testified that Chen tied Yao Chen to a bed and held him captive while Lin searched the home for valuables. Lin also stated that Chen brandished the knife during the attack. Chen himself admitted to police that he had beaten Yao Chen with brass knuckles after tying him to the bed.
The jury found Zeng Liang Chen guilty of numerous charges, including first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree felony murder, first-degree armed robbery, second-degree armed burglary, second-degree conspiracy to commit armed burglary, and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He faces a minimum sentence of 30 years for the felony murder charge and a potential sentence of life imprisonment. Sentencing for both Chen and Lin is scheduled for May 5. Lin, under his plea agreement, faces a life sentence subject to the “No Early Release Act,” requiring him to serve 85 percent of his sentence before parole eligibility.
Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni commended the diligent work of the Freehold Borough and Freehold Township Police Departments and the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit. He also acknowledged the crucial role of community cooperation in solving this brutal crime, highlighting the importance of community engagement with law enforcement in pursuing justice. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of collaborative efforts to ensure community safety. The conviction of Zeng Liang Chen brings a measure of closure to a tragic chapter in Freehold’s history, while the lasting impact of the loss of Yao and Yun Juan Chen continues to resonate within the community.
The sentencing hearing on May 5 will determine the final judicial outcome for both perpetrators, marking the end of a long and arduous legal process for the families of the victims and the Freehold community. This case underscores the importance of community vigilance and cooperation with law enforcement in addressing violent crime. The successful prosecution of Zeng Liang Chen offers a testament to the power of collaborative efforts in the pursuit of justice.
