Yi Chen (Eric) Liu and the Murder over the Weekend

Information about Yi Chen (Eric) Liu and the "Murder over the Weekend"

**NOTE: the information provided below regarding each document are summaries with some commentary to provide some context and connection to relevant facts of the case. It is advised that you view both the information below, as a supplement, and the actual documents to ensure full comprehension of Sonny's case. The summaries and commentary are used to provide an understanding of the case."

**Color Code Legend for flag markers:

Pink (purple): Helen Mo’s direct statements, statements/description made by Helen Mo, and/or information relating to Helen Mo.

Yellow: information relating to the victim, Eric Liu, from this case, and any other victim information from Mo’s 1998 conviction, and/or victim-blaming remarks.

Green: Possible police or prosecution misconduct and ineffective assistance of counsel.

Orange (red): Gang-related information



Alan Ou’s Statement (p. 1-4): Officer Mike Li telephoned Alan Ou, Eric’s friend, on Friday, 1/28/2000 at approximately 1715 hours for an interview. According to Ou, he and Eric met each other as classmates at an ESL class at Cal Poly Pomona. After 9 months, Eric transferred to Rio Hondo College and Ou transferred to a community college in Oregon.

Ou was able to recall that Eric was having problems with his friend named Helen Mo. Eric was Helen’s tutor and would frequently visit Eric at his house 2-3 times a week. Eric had told Ou that Mo had stolen some credit cards and jewelry from him, including the chain necklace that belonged to Eric Liu’s grandmother. Moreover, Eric told Ou about the $900 unauthorized charges that were made at the mall. Eric attempted to find out who made the charges and went to two malls. At the first mall, Eric showed the employee a picture, containing himself, Helen Mo, and another friend named “Wei Wei.” The employee recognized Mo, in the picture, as the one who purchased a Gucci purse. At another mall, where a surveillance equipment was set up at the register, Eric asked an employee to let him view the transaction in the videotape. However, the employee refused.

Eric confronted Mo about the theft and stolen properties from his residence to which Mo admitted to using his credit card; however, she stated that she did not steal the jewelry. Eric wanted the jewelry back and threatened to call the police if Helen did not return the property. Eric made the attempt of filing a police report but was unwilling to sign a complaint. He wanted to know what his recourse and options were. Mo promised Eric that she would bring back the stolen jewelry pieces.

In December 1999, Mo went to Eric’s apartment to speak with Eric downstairs. Ou was upstairs at the time when he saw Helen downstairs with Eric. According to their conversation, Helen wanted a couple of more days of trying to get his property back. On January 14th, 2000, Ou spoke to Eric on the telephone. Eric reiterated about going to the police if Helen did not return the property. Helen had told Eric that her “little brothers” were the ones who stole the jewelry. Ou knew that Helen had gang affiliations and that “little brothers” meant “little gangsters.” Helen wanted to return the jewelry but needed more time. She attempted to return the 2nd necklace, but it appeared to be fake. Eric gave Mo 10 days to return the original necklace and threatened Mo again. Eric had told Mo that if she could not return the remaining necklace, she would have to pay him $10,000 in cash. On 1/22, Ou called Eric, but the phone did not pick up, so he left a message. Eric returned his call later that day and told Ou that he needed to wait two more days until the deadline. On 1/24/2000, Ou telephoned Eric, but no one answered the phone.

(The Murder Over the Weekend)

Investigative Supplemental by Investigator Cain P. 12-16 on 2/6/2000 (Handwritten Bates Stamp: 34-38) (p. 5-9) : In an interview, Helen informed Inv. Cain about Eric telling her that he had an uncle in Wah Ching, and a wedding that would take place on that weekend or last at N.B.C. restaurant. Helen was also aware that Eric’s parents have an import/export business. On 1/24/2000 at 2020 hours, Officer Li and Inv. Cain contacted Annie on whether there was a wedding that previous Saturday (1/22/2000), Annie stated that she attended a wedding with her mother and brother. Based on the wedding invitation, the groom was Paul Willim Hsu, 610 Sunset Boulevard, #3, Arcadia, CA. Annie was able to recall that someone pointed out an individual at the wedding who was possibly a member of the Wah Ching. However, she didn’t know the person’s name. She also stated that the male getting married was her father’s friend. (Based on this information, we can reasonably assume that the groom was Eric’s uncle and that he is from Wah Ching, since Mo stated that Eric’s uncle is in Wah Ching).

Annie then stated about a concern that she had that may bear upon the death of Eric. Her concern was that Eric met a girl at school at Rio Hondo in the past, who hung around Eric and visits their house almost daily. It was then that Eric noticed some money missing on a credit card bill around November. Eric later decided that he felt that Helen was responsible for the credit card charges. Initially, Helen denied her involvement, but later admitted it because “a gang made her do it.” Eric’s family, especially Annie and her mother, felt that they may be targets after what happened to Eric.

Inv. Cain was able to locate a call that Eric made to El Monte Police Department on 12/16/1999 at 1430 hours. Eric had told Officer Legere about Helen Mo using his credit card without his permission. However, Eric didn’t want to prosecute at the time.

On 1/26/2000, the following were found in the trunk of a vehicle, where the victim, Eric Liu, had been found: burned remnants of what appeared to be the victim’s pants, a belt buckle and a melted mass, a pair of athletic shoes, and a lighter similar to the construction to a “Zippo” brand lighter.

Annie pointed out that she had head from the subject Mr. Wong, who was actually Mike Wang, of Prospect Storage, 2307 N. Lomas S. El Monte, CA 91733. Mr. Wang had been returning Eric’s inquiries about renting a storage space for storing the boxes of pants currently stored in the garage and bedroom.

Investigator Montgomery was able to confirm on 1/25/2000 through Rio Hondo College that Eric did not show up for his morning or afternoon class on 1/24/2000. Investigator Montgomery also spoke with Wei Wei, who stated that Eric had told her about Mo using his credit card for $1,000 in purchases in the past. Apparently, Eric paid off all the charges.

Helen also told Inv. Montgomery, Officer Li, and Detective Bacon that Eric’s house had been burglarized between Thanksgiving and Christmas of last year. (Note: no one mentioned anything about a burglary at Eric’s house except that jewelries were stolen). According to Mo, the suspects were from the “Sunny side” Wah Ching. One of the suspect’s name was “West side”. Mo could not recall the other suspect’s name but remembered that she told Eric his name in December 1999. Both of the suspects were approximately 15 years of age. When asked about the incident at De Club on January 21,2000, Helen stated that Sonny Wang drove a gray or black Honda. (Note: Sonny’s last name is Wong, not Wang. Also, he doesn’t own or drive a gray or black Honda).

On 1/27/2000 Investigator Williams and Carr talked to Terry Wilson, Helen’s court teacher at Rio Hondo Court. According to Wilson, Helen came to her at 1:00 on Monday afternoon and said, “Wee (or something sounding similar) is dead.” Mo was supposed to come to court in the morning, but did not show. She was visibly upset and crying.


Helen Mo’s 3rd Interview on 2/3/2000 at 1145 hours p. 34-35 (p. 10-13): Investigator Larry Montgomery spoke with Helen Mo about the day she came in, announcing that Eric (Yi) was found dead to Terry Wilson (Note: Eric’s Chinese name is Yi Chen Liu). When asked about why she was upset, Helen stated that she was upset because four people were storming her house. This piece of information was not given to Wilson until later on.

As an individual that is on probation for five years, Helen could have reported to the police directly about Eric’s death to clear her name. Isn’t it strange that she had the time to drive from her residence in Monterey Park to Rio Hondo Court to talk to her court teacher about this matter, but didn’t have the time to contact the police? She never made it clear as to who “Yi” was or how he died. In addition, she never came to Rio Hondo Court as she was supposed to that Monday morning, making it a probation violation. Helen’s probation officer and court teacher never seemed to take any action when they saw Helen coming in late to Rio Hondo Court.


Photo #523 and #524 (p. 14-15): These two photos were from the surveillance cameras of a gas station. They show Helen Mo present in a gas station, making a purchase. The time and date stamp of these two photos were 1/24/2000 at 08:43:42 and 1/24/2000 at 08:42:58.


Photo #65 and #63 (p. 16-17): These two photos contain a pair of Adidas pants which belonged to Helen Mo.


Stipulation (Bates Stamp: 443) (p. 18): The deputy district attorney, Debora Lloyd, and Helen Mo’s attorney, Maria Hernandez, stipulated the following items that were tested by Orange County Crime Lab for DNA analysis:

1. Blood extracted from a right Nike show recovered on a show rack in the garage area of residence.

2. Blood extracted from a pink carpet located in approximately the same area as the above-referenced Nike shoe.

3. Blood extracted from carpet from living room area.

4. Blood extracted from carpet near stains.

5. Right leg of Adidas pants.

These items were collected from Helen Mo’s residence located at 330 Hellman #A, Monterey Park, CA. If called as a witness, Forensic Scientist Mary Hong would testify that items 1-4 were consistent with the DNA profile of the victim, Eric Liu. Moreover, item 5 revealed multiple DNA profiles, where Mr. Liu’s DNA is present. This stipulation was dated on November 13, 2001.

Irvine Police Department Case Work Sheet (Bates Stamp: 001343-001345) (p. 19-21): Helen Mo’s court teacher/counselor, Terri Wilson, and probation officer, Terry O’Hare, were interviewed by an investigator from Irvine Police Department on 2/7/2000 at 1405 hours. They described Mo to be wearing a jogging suit or pants, specifically “blue or black nylon warmup pants with stripes on the side.” (This description seems to match the pair of pants that were shown in Photo #523 and #524). Terri Wilson stated that Helen had told her that there had been a murder, “___e was killed.” When she asked Helen, “How did you know,” Helen replied, “I know.” According to Wilson, she thought Helen had two strikes, but didn’t know a lot of her crime. She was aware that Helen could trust her though.

Terry O’Hare stated Helen had said that there was “going to be a murder over the weekend.” Helen Mo’s probation officer knew from Helen Mo that a murder was going to occur before 1/24/2000, yet he never took a cautionary measure to stop Helen or even question her about her involvement before the murder occurred. If O’Hare had taken precaution of Helen prior to the murder, none of this would’ve happened. The fact that Helen did not show up for her community service on Monday 1/24/2000, and that she had knowledge about the murder, makes her subject to a probation violation. Yet O’Hare never took any action on this matter.

According to O’Hare, Helen would always carry her cellphone, a silver phone with a cover with a little mouse. However, on 1/24/2000, he noticed that that Helen had two cellphones: a darker bright color-purple and the other was black. This demonstrates that Mo did not carry her cellphone at the time, but two different cellphones that possibly belonged to someone else. This information will be related to another part of the case.

Helen had stated at the time that “this is too much.” Wilson had told her that she needed to clear herself and that she needed to tell her P.O. (probation officer) before he asks her.


Supplemental Narrative by Officer Legere #171 (p. 22): An investigator contacted Detective Whary about a call on 12/16/1999 at 1430 hours. This was a narrative about Eric calling about some credit card charges. Eric stated that his girlfriend sometimes uses his card. However, he didn’t receive the statements or receipts from the credit card company. Officer Legere told Eric to contact the El Monte Police Department as soon as he receives his statement or obtain the receipts with the charges. Eric informed Officer Legere that he would check with his credit card company of any false charges and contact him immediately, if any were on his bill.


Credit Card Statement #172 (p. 23): These were the charges that were made to Eric’s account. The statement has a list of charges that are as followed: Total Time from Arcadia, CA; Body Shop from Arcadia, CA; Sunglass Hut from Arcadia, CA; and Sanrio from West Covina, CA.


Total Time Credit Card Imprint #173 (p. 24): This is an imprint of a card from Total Time with Yi Chen Liu’s name on it.


Total Time Receipt #174 (p. 25): A charge of $500 was made in Eric’s account on 11/14/1999. It was signed as Yi Chen Liu. However, this signature is different than the receipt from Sunglass Hut.


Sunglass Hut Receipt #175 (p. 26): A charge of $86.60 was made in Eric’s account on 11/14/1999. As previously stated, this signature is different than the one from Total Time receipt.


Sunglass Hut Customer Info (p. 27): As shown, the address listed for Eric is 2907 Maxson Road, Covina CA: 91723. However, that is not his address. Eric’s address is 2915 Maxson Road, El Monte as stated in another investigative supplemental. This demonstrates that someone forged Eric’s signature on this and the Total Time receipts. The person who forged his signature is Helen Mo, since it has been stated on a later document that she had already moved from Hellman to 2907 Maxson Road.


Yi Chen (Eric Liu) and the Murder Over the Weekend.pdf