Two sisters from Southern California have been charged with first-degree murder after their elderly mother was found dead — her body wedged face-first in the gap of a pullout couch, where investigators say she had been left without care for weeks.
Ingrid Wu, 51, and Rebecca Wu, 53, were arrested last week in connection with the death of their 81-year-old mother, Kun-Ying Yang, according to the San Diego Police Department.
What Happened
The nightmare came to light on March 6, just before midnight, when a family member called 911 to report an elderly woman unconscious and not breathing at a residence on Genesee Avenue in San Diego’s University City neighborhood.
When officers arrived, they found Yang already dead — her body stuck face-first in the narrow gap between the pullout couch frame and the mattress.
“We don’t know how she got into that awkward positioning,” said San Diego Police Lt. Christopher Leahy. “She clearly should not have been in that position, and efforts were not made to remove her or get her appropriate medical care.”
The medical examiner ruled her cause of death as positional asphyxia, with neglect listed as a contributing factor.
The Shocking Timeline
Initially, investigators estimated Yang had been stuck in that position for at least 15 hours. But the real timeline turned out to be far more disturbing.
Officers’ body cameras recorded a conversation between the two sisters outside their apartment — spoken in Mandarin. A Mandarin-speaking police officer later translated the recording, and what was uncovered stunned investigators.
Ingrid Wu allegedly told her sister she believed their mother had been lying in that same position for approximately 10 to 20 days. She also admitted she had only been changing Yang’s diapers and wiping her down — never once repositioning her.
According to a court declaration filed by Officer Chelsea Ulibarri, Ingrid also allegedly admitted to seeing her mother “in distress and unable to move” but chose to delay calling for medical help.
Both sisters allegedly discovered their mother trapped in the gap at around 5:30 in the morning but waited more than 18 hours before finally dialing 911.
“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 states.
Father Also Found Neglected
The situation inside the apartment was not limited to Yang’s death. The sisters’ 88-year-old father was found anemic and severely dehydrated when emergency crews arrived. He required hospitalization for several weeks and is now living in a long-term care facility.
Court records show temporary restraining orders have been issued preventing both sisters from contacting their father.
The Wu sisters were the sole caregivers for both parents, as the elderly couple was no longer able to care for themselves.
“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,” Lt. Leahy said.
Where the Case Stands Now
Ingrid Wu was arraigned on Monday and released after surrendering her passport, agreeing to stay within the state, and being placed on GPS monitoring.
Rebecca Wu is currently detained at the Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee and was scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday.
Both sisters face charges of first-degree murder in their mother’s death, along with elder abuse related to the treatment of their father.
