MURDERED: Jenny Lin, Part 1
In 1994, the brutal murder of a 14-year-old inside her parents’ safe suburban house left a community shaken to its core, because not only had a bright and talented life been suddenly snuffed out, but police struggled to find a motive. And the more clues they uncovered, the more investigators realized the nightmare they were dealing with: Jenny Lin’s murder was more than a crime of opportunity — it had been carefully planned. For nearly 30 years, Jenny’s murder has weighed on Alameda County and terrorized detectives as they’ve pondered the same question over and over since 1994: why Jenny?
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Jenny Lin is featured in the Alameda County, California, cold case playing cards as the Queen of Hearts.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The first composite sketch of the man who approached John Lin at the Bay Area Transit System station a week or so before Jenny’s murder.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The second composite sketch of the man who approached John Lin a week or two before Jenny was killed in their home.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The Lin’s family home on May 27, 1994, roped off as police began their investigation.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The Lin’s family home on May 27, 1994, roped off as police began their investigation.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The back of the Lins’ house. Police believe the killer first walked up the stairs to the master balcony, attempted to pry open the sliding glass doors, gave up, then entered the home by breaking a downstairs window.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The dog run outside the Lin’s home.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Footprints found at the Lins’ home. They appear to be boot prints — perhaps from Gorilla work boots or a similar brand. Investigators estimated the shoe was between a men’s size 9 and 11.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Footprints found at the Lins’ home. They appear to be boot prints — perhaps from Gorilla work boots or a similar brand. Investigators estimated the shoe was between a men’s size 9 and 11.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Footprints found at the Lins’ home. They appear to be boot prints — perhaps from Gorilla work boots or a similar brand. Investigators estimated the shoe was between a men’s size 9 and 11.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
A full print from what police believe is a similar-type boot.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Pry marks detectives found on the sliding glass door of the second-floor master balcony.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
A downstairs window was broken, which police believe is how the killer entered the home.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
A window inside the Lins’ home, demonstrating what the curtains in their home normally looked like, with the tie-back sitting in the middle.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
The curtain of the window that was broken in the Lins’ home. The tie-back was adjusted, and detectives believe that was an attempt to cover up the broken window.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
A chronology of events from John Lin’s perspective.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
A chronology of events from John Lin’s perspective.
Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Jenny Lin is shown with her mother in an undated photo.
Courtesy: Lin Family
Jenny is pictured at a dance in 1991.
Courtesy: Lin Family
A “Jenny Lin — Always Remember” pin.
Courtesy: Lin Family
Jenny is shown in her dancing attire. She started dance lessons at 3 years old and continued dancing for nine years.
Courtesy: Lin Family
Jenny is pictured with her family blowing out candles on a cake.
Courtesy: Lin Family
A June 21, 1994, Oakland Tribune article discussing John’s efforts to find Jenny’s killer.
Courtesy: The Oakland Tribune
A William Wong column in The Oakland Tribune detailing the lives of John and Mei-Lian and the tragic death of their youngest daughter.
Courtesy: The Oakland Tribune
Please contact the authorities If you have any information about the following cases:
If you have any information about the murder of Jennifer Lin on May 27th, 1994, please contact the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office at 510-667-3636, or call the Jenny Lin hotline at 855-4-JENNY-LIN.
To donate to The Jenny Lin foundation, visit: jennylinfoundation.org.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
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