In 1994, the brutal murder of a 14-year-old inside her parents’ safe suburban house left a community shaken to its core, because not only had a bright and talented life been suddenly snuffed out, but police struggled to find a motive. And the more clues they uncovered, the more investigators realized the nightmare they were dealing with: Jenny Lin’s murder was more than a crime of opportunity — it had been carefully planned. For nearly 30 years, Jenny’s murder has weighed on Alameda County and terrorized detectives as they’ve pondered the same question over and over since 1994: why Jenny?
Courtesy of Alameda County Sheriff’s Office
Episode Info
If you have any information about the murder of Jennifer Lin on May 27th, 1994, please contact the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office at 510-667-3636, or call the Jenny Lin hotline at 855-4-JENNY-LIN.
To donate to The Jenny Lin foundation, visit: jennylinfoundation.org.
The first composite sketch of the man who approached John Lin at the Bay Area Transit System station a week or so before Jenny’s murder. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
The second composite sketch of the man who approached John Lin a week or two before Jenny was killed in their home. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
The Lin’s family home on May 27, 1994, roped off as police began their investigation. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
The Lin’s family home on May 27, 1994, roped off as police began their investigation. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
The back of the Lins’ house. Police believe the killer first walked up the stairs to the master balcony, attempted to pry open the sliding glass doors, gave up, then entered the home by breaking a downstairs window. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
The dog run outside the Lin's home. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
Footprints found at the Lins’ home. They appear to be boot prints — perhaps from Gorilla work boots or a similar brand. Investigators estimated the shoe was between a men’s size 9 and 11. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
Footprints found at the Lins’ home. They appear to be boot prints — perhaps from Gorilla work boots or a similar brand. Investigators estimated the shoe was between a men’s size 9 and 11. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
Footprints found at the Lins’ home. They appear to be boot prints — perhaps from Gorilla work boots or a similar brand. Investigators estimated the shoe was between a men’s size 9 and 11. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
A full print from what police believe is a similar-type boot. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
Pry marks detectives found on the sliding glass door of the second-floor master balcony. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
A downstairs window was broken, which police believe is how the killer entered the home. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
A window inside the Lin's home, demonstrating what the curtains in their home normally looked like, with the tie-back sitting in the middle. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
The curtain of the window that was broken in the Lin's home. The tie-back was adjusted, and detectives believe that was an attempt to cover up the broken window. Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
A chronology of events from John Lin’s perspective (part 1). Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
A chronology of events from John Lin’s perspective (part 2). Photo Courtesy: Alameda County Sherriff's Office
Jenny Lin is shown with her mother in an undated photo. Photo Courtesy: Lin Family
Jenny is pictured at a dance in 1991. Photo Courtesy: Lin Family
A “Jenny Lin — Always Remember” pin. Photo Courtesy: Lin Family
Jenny is shown in her dancing attire. She started dance lessons at 3 years old and continued dancing for nine years. Photo Courtesy: Lin Family
Jenny is pictured with her family blowing out candles on a cake. Photo Courtesy: Lin Family
A June 21, 1994, Oakland Tribune article discussing John’s efforts to find Jenny’s killer. Photo Courtesy: The Oakland Tribune
A William Wong column in The Oakland Tribune detailing the lives of John and Mei-Lian and the tragic death of their youngest daughter. Photo Courtesy: The Oakland Tribune
Aerial footage of the Lin’s neighborhood. Courtesy: Alameda County Sheriff’s Office