PALM DESERT, CA – A jury found a 36-year-old man guilty of murdering his estranged wife and her lover during a violent confrontation outside a hotel in Palm Desert, authorities said.

Kenny Wu was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his wife, Yaying “YaYa” Wu, and Jesus Sanchez, following an incident that took place outside the SpringHill Suites hotel on July 15, 2022.

On that day, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon at the hotel’s parking lot. Upon arrival, officers discovered a man and a woman suffering from multiple stab wounds. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, according to officials.

Wu, who was found nearby with injuries believed to be self-inflicted, was taken to a local hospital for treatment before being transferred into police custody and booked into jail.

During the course of the trial, prosecutors detailed a tumultuous series of marital problems between Wu and his wife, including stalking, ongoing domestic violence, and infidelity. Court evidence showed that the couple’s relationship had further deteriorated after YaYa Wu told her husband she intended to file for divorce.

Defense attorneys argued that Wu’s emotional state had drastically declined in the months leading up to the violence, intensifying when he uncovered his wife’s affair. They contended that although he initially attempted to reconcile, the continued relationship pushed him beyond his limits.

Authorities said that on the day of the killings, Wu learned his wife and Sanchez planned to meet at the hotel. He waited in the parking lot, and when they arrived, he confronted them. According to trial testimony, Wu attacked the pair, stabbing both multiple times in an apparent fit of rage.

Evidence presented in court included records of Wu’s increasingly obsessive behavior in the days and weeks preceding the violent encounter, underscoring a pattern of domestic turmoil and escalating jealousy.

Throughout the proceedings, prosecutors emphasized Wu’s accountability for orchestrating a deadly ambush, arguing that the evidence pointed unequivocally to premeditated murder. The jury ultimately agreed with the prosecution, returning a verdict of guilty on both counts.

Sentencing for Kenny Wu is scheduled for April 17. He remains in custody awaiting the court’s decision on his punishment.