Glendale man accused of brutally murdering Brea couple, setting bodies on fire and breaking into their home

BREA, Calif. (KABC) — A Glendale man is accused of brutally murdering a Brea couple, beating the woman with a hammer, shooting both of them and setting their bodies on fire in the desert, authorities say.

Huanting Gong, 30, of Glendale, is accused of stealing $250,000 worth of luxury goods from the couple's home after disposing of their bodies.

Gong has been charged with multiple crimes including murder, kidnapping, arson and burglary and faces life in prison without parole or possibly the death penalty if convicted.

Investigators believe Gong owed $80,000 to a business partner, 37-year-old Kuanlun Wang of Brea.

Instead of paying, he allegedly met Wang in the desert on Oct. 12, shot him in the head and stuffed his body into the victim's Tesla, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

He drove the Tesla back to Wang's home in Brea and then allegedly attacked the victim's wife, 37-year-old Jing Li, with a hammer to force her to reveal her phone password, prosecutors allege.

He is then accused of driving her into the San Bernardino desert, shooting her and burning her body. He allegedly drove back to Brea to pick up Wang's body, set the body on fire and dumped him in a desert in Riverside County.

He is said to have taken the couple's two Teslas to two different desert areas and set them on fire there too.

He reportedly returned to the Brea home on October 14 and stole nearly $250,000 worth of watches, shoes, handbags and clothing.

“Depravity does not adequately describe the callousness involved in killing a human being and then driving around in the victim’s own car with his body inside to carry out the rest of his plan,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said. “No one deserves the fate of being executed and then set ablaze in the middle of the desert in a murderer’s desperate attempt to cover up his crimes. We are committed to ensuring justice for the victims and their families.”

Brea police began investigating the case on Oct. 15 when a family member said they had not heard from Wang for several days. That family member had reportedly contacted Gong on October 12 – the same day as the murder – who claimed the couple never showed up for a planned trip to New York City, where they were supposed to receive the $80,000 that Gong Wang had paid owed.

After further investigation, Gong was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on November 5 while returning from a trip to Seattle.

Gong is scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 2 in Santa Ana