Jenny Lin

On May 27, 1994, fourteen-year-old Jenny Lin was home alone in her family's house in Castro Valley, an unincorporated community in Alameda County, California. Her parents, John and Mei-Lian Lin, were both at work. When Mei-Lian returned home that evening, she discovered her daughter had been brutally murdered.

Jenny had been stabbed multiple times and her body showed signs of a violent struggle. Evidence suggested she had been practicing the flute when she was attacked. The killer had entered the home through a window. Despite extensive investigation by the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, no suspect was identified in the immediate aftermath.

The case remained cold for years. DNA evidence was collected from the crime scene, and as forensic technology advanced, investigators periodically re-examined the evidence. In 2019, on the 25th anniversary of Jenny's murder, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office announced they were using genetic genealogy techniques to identify the killer through the DNA evidence.

Jenny's parents channeled their grief into advocacy, establishing the Jenny Lin Foundation to provide educational and extracurricular opportunities for youth. The foundation has grown into a significant community organization. Despite advances in forensic technology and periodic renewed investigation efforts, Jenny's killer has never been identified.