A Southern California man is accused of murdering a couple, setting their bodies and cars on fire in the desert and then stealing nearly $250,000 worth of luxury watches, handbags and clothing from their home, prosecuting authorities said. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday that Huangting Gong, 30, of Glendale, has been charged with two felony counts of murder, one felony count of kidnapping, two felony counts of arson of property and two felony counts of first-degree burglary. “Depravity does not adequately describe the callousness involved to kill a human being and then drive around in the victim’s own car with his body inside in order to carry out the rest of his plan,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a news release Tuesday.
“No one deserves the fate of being executed and then set on fire in the middle of the desert in a desperate attempt by a killer to cover up his crimes," Spitzer continued. "We are committed to pursuing justice for the victims and their loved ones.” As of Wednesday, it is unclear if Gong has legal representation.
What is Huangting Gong accused of doing? Authorities learned of Gong's alleged crimes on Oct. 15, when a family member of 37-year-old Kuanlun Wang contacted the Brea Police Department after not hearing from him for multiple days, which "was very unusual," Spitzer's office said. The family member told police that Wang had disclosed that Gong, a business associate, owed him $80,000, .