Uncle suspected of killing teen nephews in Arcadia makes first court appearance

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Monday, April 18, 2016
Deyun Shi, 44, is seen in a Pasadena courtroom on Monday, April 18, 2016. He is accused in the deaths of his teen nephews, right, in January.
Deyun Shi, 44, is seen in a Pasadena courtroom on Monday, April 18, 2016. He is accused in the deaths of his teen nephews, right, in January.
KABC-KABC

PASADENA, Calif. (KABC) -- The man accused of killing his two teenage nephews inside their Arcadia home in January made his first court appearance on Monday.

Deyun Shi appeared in a Pasadena courtroom, where a judge postponed his arraignment to May 2.

Shi is facing murder charges after authorities said he killed his 15-and 16-year-old nephews, William and Anthony Lin, as they slept. Investigators said the boys, who were students at Arcadia High School, died of blunt force injuries.

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Shi is also accused of trying to kill his estranged wife with a wood-splitting tool. Deputies said the woman had filed a restraining order against him and had started divorce proceedings.

Shi, who is a Chinese national in the United States on a business visa, then fled to Hong Kong. He was arrested on Jan. 24, only a few days after the boys were killed. He then agreed to be extradited back to the U.S.

He finally arrived back in the states last week. Shi was taken into custody by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on Friday and booked for murder. He is being held without bail.

Through the family attorney Rose Tsai, the boys' father said he's glad the man who killed his two children will face justice.

"He's relieved, but only to a very, very small extent, that the defendant finally came back and is extradited back to the United States so he's able to face the judicial system of our country," Tsai said.