Particle.news

Download on the App Store

CalArts Student Found Murdered, Police Seek Person of Interest Seen Fleeing Scene

Menghan Zhuang, a 23-year-old Chinese national, was discovered dead in her Santa Clarita condo, and authorities are searching for a man seen leaving through a second-story window.

Overview

  • Menghan Zhuang, also known as Emily King, was a senior at the California Institute of the Arts studying art and living in Santa Clarita on a student visa from China.
  • She was found unresponsive by her roommate on February 4, suffering from multiple upper body injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
  • Authorities are seeking a man in his 20s of Asian descent, described as wearing black clothing, who was seen on surveillance video leaving through a second-story window of Zhuang's apartment the same day she was found dead.
  • Investigators believe the man was a known acquaintance of Zhuang and have ruled out her roommate as a suspect; the incident is not considered a random act of violence.
  • A $20,000 reward has been announced for information leading to the identification and apprehension of the person of interest, with tips being encouraged through local law enforcement or anonymous hotlines.