NYT Exec Attempted Suicide Twice Amid Turbulent Relationship, Court Docs Reveal

Slain New York Times tech executive Jonathan McKinsey attempted suicide twice during a difficult period in his relationship with Candice Jang, according to court records.

In one instance in 2010, Jang told McKinsey that "no one would want to be with someone as 'f-ed up and transgender' like" him, the documents state. McKinsey alleged in his restraining order against Jang that he tried to commit suicide following this comment "as a direct result of Candice’s abuse." He called 911 before losing consciousness and survived.

The first suicide attempt occurred in 2009 under unclear circumstances. McKinsey referenced this incident in a December 2009 email to Jang, stating he ended up in a mental hospital and criticizing his parents.

Both Jang and McKinsey accused each other of verbal and physical abuse throughout their custody and divorce proceedings. In one incident cited by Jang, she called the police on McKinsey after he allegedly hit their then-six-year-old son in the face. McKinsey was charged with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse, to which he pleaded not guilty.

McKinsey, who formerly went by Dawn Finney, was transitioning from female to male at the time of both suicide attempts. The couple married in 2011 in Harris County, Texas.

McKinsey was fatally shot in September 2026 by his in-laws, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, who have been charged with murder. McKinsey's family members have suggested that her parents may have killed him to gain sole custody of their three children. McKinsey had previously had disputes with Jang's parents, including an incident where Chen allegedly used derogatory language toward him.