Google software engineer accused in slaying of his wife in South Bay

Santa Clara police have arrested a Google software engineer on suspicion of killing his wife, the department said Friday.

Liren Chen, 27, of Santa Clara, was arrested Tuesday after police found him “spattered in blood” at his home, with his wife’s body nearby, police said.

Police went to the Valley Way home around 11 a.m. for a welfare check and spoke to an acquaintance of Chen who told authorities they were concerned about Chen and his wife since Chen refused to answer the door or his phone. The person told police they could see Chen inside the home “motionless on his knees, had his hands in the air and … staring blankly.”

The officers entered the home and found his dead wife on the floor in the bedroom behind where Chen was standing, police said. Authorities determined she had suffered from severe blunt force trauma to her head and Chen’s right arm was “extremely swollen and purple.” He also had blood on his clothing, legs, arms and hands as well as scratches on his arm, according to police.

A LinkedIn profile appearing to belong to Chen said he worked at Google as a software engineer since March 2020. A Google spokesperson confirmed that both Chen and his wife, whom they declined to name out of respect for her family’s privacy, were both company employees.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by what has happened to the victim,” Google told the Chronicle in an emailed statement. “Our thoughts are with her family at this time, and we will work to provide support to them and to co-workers who are processing this tragic news.”

In a statement provided by police, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen implored domestic abuse victims to seek law enforcement help if needed.

“Domestic violence deaths have been falling in our county but that does not measure the depth and destructiveness of the violence,” he said. “Anyone who feels that they or someone else is being abused by their partners, please reach out to your local law enforcement agency. You are not alone. We can help.”