Prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed Tuesday to postpone a preliminary hearing for a woman accused of killing her husband and two children.

The move is one of several delays in the case since Man-ling Williams was arrested in connection with slaying of her husband Neal and children Ian and Devon. 

This small note comes from Jan WIlliams, mother of Neal grandmother of Ian and Devon. Jan attends each hearing in the case and reports to Crime Scene readers on the state of the case:

At a hearing today it was determined that they need to set another date in order to set a date for the preliminary.  Next check in hearing date is June 26.  Jan

My comment: Sounds like something from the court of the Queen of Hearts in Wonderland.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jan WIlliams recalls her son Neal in an email I received this morning.

Neal, 27, and Jan's grandsons Ian and Devon were slain last August at their apartment in Rowland Heights. Neal's wife Manling has been charged in the killings and has yet to face a preliminary hearing in the case. Neal was apparently stabbed to death. The children were suffocated.

Here's Jan's letter:

May 19, 2008 - Neal's 28th birthday.  More than any other holiday or anniversary that I have faced in the last nine months, this is the one that is the most difficult.  This is the day my only son was born.  He should be here to eat his grandmother's key lime pie, the one she only makes for him.  It isn't fair.  It isn't right.  He had so many things to look forward to and he didn't deserve to die.  How hard it is as a parent to think of your child bleeding out his life in fear and pain.  There are times when I think that my heart is too wounded to beat even one beat more.

I have spoken and written about the little boys, but until now I have been unable to write about Neal.  That isn't because I loved my grandchildren more than I loved my son.  I think it is because the hurt is too close.  And because so many parts of our personalities were similar, holding a magnifying glass up to examine Neal means that I must examine myself as well.  To help you see Neal  I must expose a bit of me.  That isn't easy or comfortable, so let me take a couple of deep breaths.

Neal and I are both peacemakers.  We hate to see anyone angry, in pain or humiliated.  We want to fix it.  I've seen Neal get up and leave the room when he could tell that a character in a television show was about to be embarrassed.   His eyes teared up when the barracuda ate the clown fish's eggs in Finding Nemo, and he was bothered when the T-Rex ate the dog in Jurassic Park II.  He could always see the other side in almost every argument.  It didn't necessarily make him change his mind, because he could be very stubborn about his own conclusions, but he could understand and empathize.  I am the same way myself.  Perhaps that is why we could discuss so many issues - even volatile ones.  We both knew that it was safe to air our opinions, but that we shouldn't expect any sudden about face, no matter how eloquent our arguments.

We are voracious readers who can lose all sense of time with a book in our hands.  It is known to be  dangerous to let us loose in a book store, especially if it also sells coffee.  We are interested in many of the same things - history and archaeology, space travel and ecology, philosophy and volcanoes.  We are fans of Monty Python and Shakespeare, Star Wars and Gilbert and Sullivan.  We like to cook but detest washing dishes.  We procrastinate.  We like to walk in the rain.  We sing in the car.  Devon once asked me in confusion how I knew all of his daddy's songs.  I can't begin to tell you how it felt to see my son sing my songs and play my games and tell my stories with his own children.  It was almost like being handed a glimpse of immortality, real and down to earth.

Neal and I are good with animals and children.  We can make friends with mean old alley cats and can put babies to sleep.  When Neal was in middle school, he was a volunteer aide at a daycare center.  I would come to pick him up and see him walking calmly across a play yard with four-year-olds stuck like glue to every limb.  The last time I went to the park with Neal and the boys, he started in pushing the merry-go-round, and kept right on pushing, even when his own children had lost interest and gone on with me to other amusements.  As long as there was a single child to say "Again!" he was there to push, even red faced and out of breath.  He was a great father who treated every child he met as though it was one of his own boys.

Neal liked to tease, with a roguish twinkle in his eyes, and he had a wonderful, infectious laugh. He was a trustworthy and loyal friend, the kind who would show up with a truck on moving day. He was an amazing strategist, who thought many moves ahead, and when he played games he usually won.  He also had the infinite patience to teach hyperactive little boys how to play chess or baseball or video games or (Devon's favorite) the German card game Bohnanza.  He answered endless questions, and laughed with good humor at whatever jokes were popular in the first grade, even the ones he had heard many times before.

Neal didn't have a lot of ambition for material things.  He was raised by a single parent from the time he was two, and we never had a lot of money.  It didn't matter.  We were rich in many other things, and I know he felt the same about his own adult life.  We often talked about it.  Devon and Ian were his treasure, and he had no need of fancy cars or a big house.  I am proud of that.  Neal was a man of heart and integrity, and that means more to me than if he had become the world's youngest multimillionaire.  He would often quote the character  Merlin from the movie Excaliber , saying, "When a man lies he murders part of the world."  He believed that and made it his personal code of honor.  How many people even have a code of honor in this busy and competitive world? .  He wasn't a perfect man.  He was a good man.  That was Neal - a genuinely good man.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This comes from Jan Williams in an email.

Williams' son Neal and grandsons Ian and Devon were killed in August at their home in Rowland Heights. Police arrested Neal's wife Manling Tsang Williams on suspicion of murder in the case. She could face the death penalty if convicted.

Here's Jan's letter:

I've been thinking a lot about my littlest guy today.  I was sitting on my front porch this morning with a cup of tea and heard the chattering of little voices.  I looked down the street to see a double line of preschoolers - about 25 of them- being led on a walk by 3 adult women.  My street doesn't have a sidewalk, and the adults struggled to hold the little ones in formation and keep them to the side of the street.  They had quite a bit of difficulty as they passed my house as the mailbox drew a lot of attention and the children kept reaching out to touch the evergreen hedge.  As they came back down the other side of the street, one little boy broke away and went whirling through the tall, unmown grass across the street.  That would have been Ian.

This was going to be Ian's year, when he would finally get to go to preschool like the "big guys."  He was very excited about it.  He would have been quite a handful, because he had insatiable curiosity, boundless energy and not an ounce of fear.  He blew through life like a hurricane, mercurially jumping from one thing to the next without thought.  When he broke something or got into trouble as was inevitable, he was usually genuinely surprised.  It never occurred to him that anything could possibly go wrong, or that you would actually get mad at him, even though you had told him repeatedly not to continue with what he was doing.  There were no half measures with Ian.  He threw himself into life with great abandon, and lived totally in the moment.  It might not be a good idea to build a ladder out of chairs and climb to the top, but once imagined, the deed had to be carried through to fruition immediately, no matter the consequences.

So yes, Ian would have been learning to walk in a line holding hands with a partner.  (Probably a girl, because Ian just loved little girls).  But he couldn't have resisted opening and closing the mailbox several times, and pulling needles off the hedge, even if it pricked his fingers.  And as for the yard of unmown grass, waving knee high in the gentle breeze... absolutely irresistable.  Just like Ian.  I miss him.  Jan

Posted by Frank Girardot at 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A hearing in the Man-Ling Williams case, scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed to a date in the future that has yet to be determined.

Eventually there will be a preliminary hearing in the case. When that will take place is anybody's guess.

Williams is accused of killing her husband by slashing him to death with a ninja sword last August. She is also accused of killing the couple's two children by smothering them to death in their beds.

The family lived in an apartment/condo in Rowland Heights.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

This letter comes from the mother of Ondrea Alvarez, who was killed in a fatal traffic accident on Pathfinder Road in Rowland Heights. The family, and police are still seeking answers in the case. THe top photo is from the family's Bellflower backyard. The bottom from a memorial at the site of the accident. Here's the letter:

 Thank you for following up on the story of our wonderful daughter/sister. We thought we would send you some pictures of Ondrea and of the memorial which is at the site of the accident and of the one at her home in Bellflower. If you could please post one or two of them with your "Trace" artical as well as any future updates we would be very greatful.

We know very little about what happend on the night of the accident and the CHP have said that no information would be available until they complete their investigation (which we were told could take up to 3 or more months) so we are thankful to you and the crimescene site for the comfort we have found in the information you have porvided us.

Thank you so very much!

Ondrea's Mother - Robin Hoskins

Posted by Frank Girardot at 3:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

A trio of men suspected of being the WWF bandits have been captured by police in Orange County following a bank robbery, officials said.

Here's a snippet from Brian Day's story on the arrests:

The suspects are Gary Edward Caruthers, 50, of Los Angeles, Jay Chandler Flott, 51, of Los Angeles, and Andre Williamson, 50, of Inglewood, police said.

All of the alleged crimes were takeover-style robberies in which the masked suspects brandished shotguns, officials said.

When the crime spree began at banks in Rowland Heights and Industry, we took to calling these guys the Lucha Libre Bandits. The FBI, not realizing the WWF is now the WWE stuck with their moniker.

The arrests come just in time for this weekend's Wrestlemania festivities.where apparently there will be a "Money in the Bank Ladder Match"  No masked wrestlers have entered the event this year though there's still time.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 6:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

The state's ABC TRACE team is investigating the traffic collision that killed 20-year-old Ondrea Alvarez of Bellflower in Rowland Heights on Pathfinder Road March 2.

The team does back track investigations whenever there is a major incident involving an underage drinker.

"They are going to find where the kid who was driving got the booze," says reporter Brian Day who is following this story.

There's been several blog comments on the case. There is also an Internet guest book for grieving friends of Ondrea to recall her life.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

According to ace night cop reporter Brian Day, the Lucha Libre banditos, who the FBI likes to call the WWF Shotgun Bandits, have struck again. This time at a UCB on Colima in Rowland Heights. Friday afternoon to be exact.

No Melina wasn't there, but she's here as a reminder that Wrestlemania is just a few short days away.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 5:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Posted by Frank Girardot at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Attention Aaron Proctor:

The tag team duo hitting area banks wearing luchador masks reminescent of Rey Mysterio have now been named by the FBI (they liked our suggestion, but chose to stick with something a little more English sounding).

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the WWF Shotgun Bandits, whom the FBI describes as Black Males, Mid 20s to Late 30s, Robbed in City of Industry and Rowland Heights:

We're not sure why the FBI chose WWF as opposed to WWE, WCW or ECW, but they did.

BTW we're only 23 days away from Wrestlemania. This year it's in Vega$. I've got the Undertaker beating Edge.

 I also like Floyd Mayweather over the Big Show...

Posted by Frank Girardot at 3:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

You know that word?

Sometimes it's a noun. Other times, it's an adjective. It's also definitely a verb.

Don't use it in South Pasadena this week.

Or any word remotely close. That's because the city has declared it's "Cuss Free Week."

The idea comes from 14-year-old McKay Hatch, who started a No Cussing Club at South Pasadena Middle School this past June, according to his father, Brent.

South Pas isn't the only place adopting McKay's program. He has a Web site, nocussing.com and branches of the club in all 50 states.

McKay's Web site explains the origins of his club.

"A lot of kids at my school, and some of my friends, would cuss and use dirty language all the time. They did it so much, they didn't even realize they were doing it. It bothered me so much that one day I challenged them to stop," Hatch wrote. "But some of the kids said they didn't know how to stop. That's when I started the No Cussing Club."

It wasn't easy at first. Kids at the middle school would say some pretty foul things to McKay, his dad recalled.

And, as for starting the club, Brent was sort of against it at first.

"When McKay came to us and said he wanted to this, I didn't want to do it all," Brent said.

That's probably because Brent, like most of the rest of us, doesn't scream a hearty Homer Simpson "d'oh" when he stubs his toe.

If he's like me, the language is likely more purple than the bruised toe. I slip up in the newsroom, too, so needless to say I really had to watch it Wednesday when a group of Cub Scouts from Foothill Christian School toured the plant at deadline.
A very dangerous time.

"I slip up every once in a while," Brent admitted. "I'm not perfect. I've always had a real bad habit, but I'm trying to curb it 100 percent."

Of course Brent's not alone in South Pasadena. Over at Ben's Barbershop, a blue word can be heard now and then.

Same thing at Carmine's on Fair Oaks.

"Most people here say what they are going to say," said a woman at the Italian restaurant who identified herself as Amy. "That's a high school thing. We're a business for adults - 21 and over."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A preliminary hearing for Man-Ling Williams has been postponed - again.

Williams, 27, is accused of suffocating her two young sons and stabbing her husband to death at the couple's Rowland Heights home in August.

Killed were Neal Williams, 27, and sons Ian, 3, and Devon, 7.

The case is moving pretty slowly through the system and it appears as if the District Attorney's Office is allowing the defense to drag their feet.

Appearing before a judge this week, the defense presented a sealed argument asking for another delay. And, it was granted. Because the argument was heard in chambers, we don't know how the prosecution responded.

Likely the argument contained evidence that the defense didn't want made public. What's interesting is that the DA's office has said nothing about the case since bringing the prosecution in August.

Back in January, Jan Williams, Neal's mother noted the defense delays were maddening to the family.

In an email she wrote, "I thought the judge was getting impatient with the delays, If only we could move ahead on one of these fronts, I think we would feel better.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Cops and FBI haven't named this guy yet, they dont' even say these two robberies are related...BUT they sure look alike (and there's a pump action shot gun in both pics)

Anyway the consensus in the newsroom is that this guy should be called the Lucha Libre Bandit...we'll stick with it.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 5:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)

We received this letter in the newsroom today regarding the accident that claimed the life of 20-year-old Ondrea Alvarez and seriously injured Elias Munoz.

The photo here shows a sign that was knocked down by Munoz's I35

Here's what the letter had to say. We have no way of verifying if it is the truth:

I seen Elias Munoz, and Ondrea.... I seen him like maybe an 1 1/2 before the accident... I can not believe that the restaurant where we were at....  would let a minor drink in there.  I heard a couple of them at the table ordering drinks.  I just thought maybe there was a couple of 21 year old in that table that was ordering... , But after reading this.... I know he drank there....
there would have been no time for him to drink somewhere else.  When he first came in... he was not intoxicated. it was around 9pm when he showed up... they were sitting at the next table from me.  I know there is no excuse for him to be drinking it, but I also think that the restaurant/waiter made a poor choice... I feel the pain for both parents.... Me being a parent myself.... just scares me when my daughters go out with their friends.... And if that happen to my kids... I would want to sue that restaurant.

I wouldn't want the restaurant to know I am the one that leak this out, I wouldn't want the waiter to come after me. because this is a serious offense on his part toooo. I just think that is a sad situation.... and I just don't think all this is fair for both of these teenagers.  I just wish Eli had more common sense and not get behind that wheel.... It hurts me to hear about this... I still can't believe this happen. it's soooo sad.  He is a very good boy... Just didn't think twice that day.  Im sure he realizes now...  like I said before... I feel the pain for both parents, and the pain that Eli will carry with him.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (48)

5) MAN DOWN: PASADENA - A 27-year-old man stabbed an unincorporatd Pasadena resident several times early Monday morning, police said.

4) TRAIN DOWN: INDUSTRY - A train narrowly missed striking a pedestrian Monday morning after the man jumped out of the way, officials said.

3) WOMAN DOWN: ROWLAND HEIGHTS - A 20-year-old woman was killed and a man was seriously injured in a car accident Sunday night.

2) TEEN DOWN: WHITTIER - A 17-year-old was shot and wounded Sunday in what was described as a gang-related shooting. The teen was riding a scooter near Norwalk Avenue and Balfour street at the time of the incident, officials said.

1) CRANK DOWN: MONROVIA - Three arrested Saturday in a car loaded with more that 6 ounces of crank. Two men and a woman were taken in to custody by the Monrovia police.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 10:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Both of these come from reporter Brian Day, SGVN's crack night cop reporter:

BASSETT — Officials have released the identity of a man found shot and killed inside a trailer Sunday.
Richard Casillas, Jr., a 43-year-old La Puente resident, was pronounced dead shortly before 9 a.m. in the 13800 block of Proctor Avenue, said Los Angeles County coroner’s Lt. Fred Corral.
The shooting is being investigated as a homicide, Corral said.
No further details were available.

ROWLAND HEIGHTS — A man found shot to death last week remained unidentified Monday, officials said.
The body was discovered about 5:30 a.m. in the 18100 block of Los Palacios Drive, sheriff’s officials said.
The dead man, only described as Latino, is believed to have been shot elsewhere and dropped off on Los Palacios Drive, said Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Maribel Rizo.
Investigators are still investigating the man’s identity through methods such as finger prints and dental records, however he is currently designated John Doe No. 24, said Los Angeles County coroner’s Lt. Fred Corral.
No further details were released.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 7:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

None of these stories made it in print...but they're on the blog and here's the photos, courtesy the FBI's LA Field Office and Web site.

Click on the photos to see them up close and personal.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This from Jan Williams.

Once again, the defense said they are not yet prepared and asked that the matter be postponed.  There will be another "check in" hearing on February 20, and the preliminary has been rescheduled for March 6.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 9:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Posted by Frank Girardot at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

 Tania Chatila is on the scene of the fatal shooting that occurred this a.m. in Rowland Heights. SHeriff's officials say at least three people were shot about 7:20 a.m. this morning.
View Larger Map

10:46 a.m. UPDATE

The shooting was an attempted murder suicide. A man apparently shot his 26-year-old daughter and 50-year-old wife before killing himself in the Rowland Heights incident. We now have a photographer on scene in the apparently gated community.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The email below comes from Jan Williams, a Whittier mom and grandmother whose son Neal and two grandsons Devon and Ian, were killed in August at their apartment in Rowland Heights.

Man-ling (or Manling, or Man Ling) WIlliams, Neal's wife, and the children's mother is awaiting a preliminary hearing in the case later this month. Manling is suspected of stabbing her husband to death and smothering the children. Because the case contains special circumstances Manling could face the death penalty if convicted.

Here's Jan's note:

I copied this from the Parents of Murdered Children's website:  

"Big Turn Off-January 9, 2008: This is an annual event asking citizens to turn off their TVs for three hours during the prime-time segment of programming to protest TV violence. The average child, watching the average amount of television will witness 200,000 acts of violence by the age of 18. The goal of the Big Turn-Off is to empower people to object to what they find offensive and send a message that promotes non-violent programming."

As a parent and grandparent of murder victims, I have experienced first hand the way our society has become desensitized to violent crime.  People sometimes forget, when speaking about a recent murder, that this is a real tragedy that has happened to real people.  You wouldn't believe some of the things that complete strangers have felt free to ask me or the theories that they have pontificated.  Murder is not entertaining, and that statement needs to be reiterated over and over again until it is really heard.  Thanks for letting me vent.

Jan Williams

Posted by Frank Girardot at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Posted by Frank Girardot at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The picture here is of Devon Williams, it was provided by his grandmother Jan.

I got a letter from Jan Williams, who noted that Los Altos Elementary School will be refurbishing their library with a dinosaur theme and dedicating it in the memory of Devon Williams, her grandson who was killed with his brother and father in August at their home in Rowland Heights.

Jan says the library has ordered new books, a plaque has been finished and a mural has been commissioned.

Devon and Ian's books will be donated to the library. 

 Anyone who wants to donate can make a check payable to the Los Altos PTA.  The address is:  Los Altos Elementary School, 15565 Los Altos Drive, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 2:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (27)

Below is the web update that will appear on SGVN in a few minutes. There's not much more to report. Manling is still dressed int he Yellow and blue garb which indicates she is in protective custody and may be a danger to herself. Upon entering the courtroom she briefly acknowledged her family then turned away. Throughout William's voice was barely audible when answering questions from Judge Robert Martinez.

She was handcuffed to a courtroom chair for the duration of the hearing and  led away as soon as it finished. Williams did not look back at her family or the family of her deceased husband upon leaving.

[BODY]POMONA — Prosecutors shared evidence Thursday with attorneys for a woman accused of killing her husband and two children and agreed to hold a preliminary hearing in the case on Jan. 28.
The evidence exchange took place minutes before a brief hearing in the Pomona Court for Man-ling Williams, 28, of Rowland Heights.
“There’s a significant amount of discovery,” defense attorney Tom Althaus told Superior Court Judge Robert Martinez.
When asked by Martinez what materials might be contained in the package, Althaus was interrupted by prosecutor Paik Kouch who gave the judge a generic list of its contents.
“There’s a tremendous amount of material,” Kouch said. “There’s a list of additional witness, field reports from investigators and C.S.I. people as well as supplemental reports.”
Neither Kouch nor Althaus revealed the specific contents of the discovery materials.
Williams is accused of stabbing her husband Neal, 27, to death with a sword and of suffocating the couples’ two young boys, Devon, 7, and Ian, 3.
At her initial hearing in the case, Williams' first defense attorney, Kenneth Wenzl, said Williams detailed her involvement in the killings of her husband and sons.
Sheriff’s officials confirmed there was a confession.
Besides the three counts of murder, Williams faces special circumstance allegations of lying in wait prior to the slaying of the children, and three counts of multiple murder.
In addition to her apparent confession, the case against Williams appears to hinge on her shifting story to neighbors and detectives immediately after the bodies were discovered.
At first, she allegedly told neighbors she couldn’t sleep and took a drive. She said she discovered the bodies upon her return home.
“She provided some statements that proved incriminating,” said Sgt. Bill Marsh, lead homicide detective in the case for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Both sides had hoped they could delay a preliminary hearing in the case, but Martinez would not budge and scheduled a Jan. 28 hearing date, with a Jan. 15 status conference.
[

Posted by Frank Girardot at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This from the wires:

Thursday, 8:30 a.m. POMONA - A preliminary hearing date is scheduled to be set for Manling Tsang Williams, who is charged with capital murder in the slayings of her husband and the couple’s two young sons at the family’s Rowland Heights home. Dept. S, Pomona

Posted by Frank Girardot at 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to Crime scene sources attorneys for Manling (man-ling) Williams tossed her apartment this afternoon for several hours.
Williams is accused of slashing her husband to death with a sword and smothering her two boys. She will appear in court later this month in Pomona for a preliminary hearing. The assumption here is that her attorneys were looking for any evidence that would dispute the state's case.
Of course there's not much they could find that would cast doubt on the alleged confession Williams made shortly after the murders.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 9:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Man-Ling (or manling if you prefer) Williams will appear is court Wednesday a.m. for a third shot at arraignment on three charges of murder. Williams is accused of killing her husband and two small children inside their Rowland Heights apartment in early August.
Sadly enough for family members the araignment comes one day before what would have been Ian Williams' fourth birthday. The picture above is of Ian and his dad Neal.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Man-Ling (Or Manling if you prefer) Williams could get the death penalty for killing her husband and two small children.
Stats show that women are less likely to face special circumstance allegations, and much less likely to have the punishment handed out.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 8:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Since putting together a follow up story on the stabbing death of Chris Boo K. Lee, I have received several emails and phone calls from friends and family of Lee's who want to share their memories of Lee.
Here's a sampling from one letter sent Wednesday evening: (I'm keeping the writer anonymous and have edited this slightly)

Hello Frank, regarding your article today about Chris, it is good to know that your doing your job and made those names public. It is unfortunate to hear that the gangmembers that were arrested ... were released for a reason I do not know yet. I am a very close friend of Chris and I can personally tell you that Chris was not a gangmember. ... The last 7 years i have known him he has always been a good student, helpful to his family, and a very loyal friend.

yeah paul used to be my best friend till he became stupid

Posted by Frank Girardot at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This came from Jan Williams, the mother of Neal and grandmother of Devon and Ian. The three were found dead Aug. 8 inside their Rowland Heights apartment.
Neal Williams' wife, Man-Ling (aka Manling), is facing capital murder charges in connection with the case. She is set to be arraigned Friday morning in West Covina.
Here's what Jan Williams wrote this a.m.:

A memorial service for all three of my handsome boys was held at the SkyRose chapel in Rose Hills on Thursday morning, August 23. The outpouring of support from the community has been deeply appreciated. If we have tried to mourn this terrible blow in private, I'm sure your readers can understand our feelings. I have lost 3 of people who made my life worth living. The Tsang family has also suffered a horrible loss. It is uncomfortable to wear a broken heart on your sleeve for all the world to see. The wound is raw -please let us heal a while in private. JW

Posted by Frank Girardot at 10:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Arraignment is scheduled Friday for Man-ling (Manling) Tsang Williams, who is charged with capital murder for the slayings of her husband and the couple’s two young sons at the family’s Rowland Heights home. We haven't heard much about this case since her original arraignment was postponed.
Neal Williams' family has been very reluctant to discuss the case and were very private about any funeral. We do know that both families participated in a service of some sort at Rose Hills last week.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 11:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Some random loose ends:
A coroner's spokesman Wednesday told reporter Ruby Gonzales that Neal Williams died from "sharp force injuries" which would idicate he was stabbed more than once. I saw a comment on an Internet news group from a person identifying herself as a neighbor who claimed Neal was stabbed 40 times.
The children's bodies have been released to Rose Hills Mortuary as of Wedensday and now the coroner is saying an actual cause fo death determination has been delayed. Any number of things could be read into that including the possibility they were poisoned. (No one has said that)...

Continue reading "Williams case notes" »

Posted by Frank Girardot at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

There is no date set to hold a funeral for Neal, Devon and Ian Williams, friends of the family told me today. That said, there is news of a scholarship set up in all three names at Whittier College. I'll post details later.
The family friend also told me that whatever funeral is held, it will be private.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 6:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

After using a variety of combinations to do some Google searches in the Man-ling (Manling) Williams case, I came across some stories in Chinese that might be of interest.
The first is a straight news story, recaping some of what the neighbors said, and adding some description about the actual crime scene.
The second is more like a feature story from a Chinese perspective on the hazards of mixed marriages.
The links are via Google's translation service, and I can't vouch for the accuracy....

Continue reading "Chinese media covers murder case with a twist" »

Posted by Frank Girardot at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I received an email today from a friend of Man-ling (Manling) Williams, who noted the tragedy that befell Neal, Devon and ian Williams extends well beyond immediate family.
Here's the beginning of the well-written and thoughtful letter:

I don't think Man-Ling's friends who were present at the hearing were ignoring you out of malice. I believe it is out of necessity. What could they possibly say? There is no way to justify this. There is no way to explain it away. The pain...

Continue reading "Another Williams friend speaks out" »

Posted by Frank Girardot at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

MyDeathSpace has posted entries in the Man-ling(manling) Williams case.
Following the links to both Neal's and Man-ling's sites though I noticed both had been taken down. Too bad.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Local photog Ron Fu has posted some interesting photos he took outside the home of Man-ling and Neal Williams in Rowland Heights.
Man-ling (or Manling) is accused of stabbing her husband with a sword and suffocating her two children with a pillow.
Fu sent me this pic attached to this post for use with the blog. It's Ok, but the stuff he put on Flickr is better.

Posted by Frank Girardot at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (13)

Several friends of Man-ling Williams are commenting on various blog entries here, and they want people to know that Williams, who is accused of killing her two sons and her husband last Wednesday in Rowland Heights, is not a bad person in their eyes.
A quick comment on the comments, notice Man-ling's friends use a hyphen in the spelling of her name. Although it seems like everyone else writing about this story has adopted the one word spelling of her name, I'm sticking with the hyphen until further notice.
Interestingly enough many of Man-ling's friends were at her court appearance Friday and instead of approaching us to give another version of the events, they mad-dogged me in court and turned their backs on reporters outside of court.
Here's some comments ...

Continue reading "Friends of Man-ling or (Manling) Williams speak out" »

Posted by Frank Girardot at 8:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (17)

A Deputy Public defender let slip in court Friday that Man-ling WIlliams, accused of stabbing her husband with a sword and smothering her children to death with a pillow, allegedly confessed to the crimes.
We've got a story online now to that effect.
Man-ling was allowed to change from the jailhouse issue jumpsuit into a shirt and pants, in anticipation of being photographed.
She appeared pretty emotionless to me, although photog Leo Jarazomb said she appeared distressed and stressed to him. Man-ling Williams spoke in a barly audible monotone, and actually had to go through two hearings, because a court reporter was absent for the first.
Judge Abe Khan ...

Continue reading "Alleged Confession" »