Estranged Wife of Slain NYT Executive Seen With Children as Parents Charged with Murder

Candice Jang, the estranged wife of New York Times tech executive Jonathan McKinsey, was seen with her three children on Wednesday, hours after her parents were charged with his murder. Jang was observed outside the home she shared with McKinsey, who had moved out several months prior amid a contentious divorce and child custody battle that began last year.

Jang’s parents, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, appeared in a Dublin, California, courtroom Wednesday. They face felony charges, including murder with a special circumstance of "lying in wait." Chen informed the court that she lacked the financial means for a private attorney, while Zhang waived his formal arraignment. Neither defendant was granted bail, and no pleas were entered. They are scheduled for further proceedings on Thursday.

The elderly couple is accused of fatally shooting McKinsey in the parking lot of the Dublin Sports Grounds on Saturday before fleeing the scene. Police apprehended them shortly after the incident, with the assistance of witnesses.

While the motive for the alleged killing remains unclear, the family history includes past domestic incidents. McKinsey had accused Jang of hitting him with a frying pan in 2013 and of verbal abuse toward their children. He also reported that Chen had allegedly used derogatory language towards their young son and McKinsey, who was transgender, in 2023.

McKinsey was previously charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse last year after allegedly striking their son. He was released from jail with the condition that he complete parenting classes.