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Unsettled divorce led to murder-suicide, friends say

The man believed to have shot his ex-wife before shooting himself Friday wanted to resume living with his ex-wife -- or be paid for his share of the home and dry cleaning business they had once owned together, friends and co-workers said Monday, May 17.

In the city's first murder since 2008, Cho Yong Chang, 70, and his ex-wife In Ku Lee, 62, were found dead May 14 inside Vogue Dry Cleaners on Escuela Avenue by an employee. Both had been shot and a gun was found at the scene, police said. There was no sign of breaking and entering.

Police are classifying the case as a murder-suicide, but are not ruling out the possibility of a double murder.

"We're not discounting the possibility that it could be a staged murder-suicide," police spokesperson Liz Wylie said Tuesday morning. "But so far we have uncovered nothing that points to that."

Police say Lee was shot by someone else several times in the torso and once to the head, while Chang died from one gunshot wound to the neck.

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"Evidence gleaned during the autopsy further confirms our current classification as murder-suicide with (Chang) as the shooter," police spokesperson Liz Wylie said in an email Tuesday.

Siaby Singh, a clerk at the 7-11 store across the street from Vogue Dry Cleaners, said that people in the neighborhood looked up to Chang, and that some even called him "Mayor." Chang would visit businesses in the nearby strip malls several times a day to socialize.

"People went to him for help and advice," Singh said. When the warm food at 7-11 was about to expire, Chang would take it to a struggling family living behind the dry cleaners, Singh said. "That's the kind of person he was," Singh said.

"He was a trustworthy guy," Singh said. "It was like losing family."

Chang worked for Lee after their divorce in order to make a living because "he had to," Singh said. Santa Clara County court records reportedly show that Lee had been ordered to pay Chang $350,000 in their 2004 divorce in which Lee became owner of a Santa Clara home. Years later, Chang felt he had still not received his share, Singh said, but "he was never angry."

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"Let me get my share and go back to Japan," is what Chang was saying to his ex-wife, Singh said. Chang was born in Japan but of Korean descent, according to an employee of the dry cleaner.

By all accounts, Chang was a "nice, friendly guy," said an employee Tony and Alba's Pizza, another business at the corner of Latham and Escuela streets where Chang would socialize with the staff. "He will definitely be missed," said the employee, who asked that his name not be used.

Anthony Salciccia Jr., whose family owns Tony and Alba's, said people in the neighborhood were shocked and saddened by the deaths.

Chang and Lee had also operated Calderon Dry Cleaners at Calderon and Church streets. Both stores were apparently signed over to Lee at some point, though Chang had been an owner for over 20 years, friends said. Both Lee and Chang also had children from previous marriages.

An employee of the Calderon store said Chang would come in daily to help run the place, which is now managed by a daughter of Lee's. He seemed "lonely and depressed," the employee said. "He didn't have any hope."

"He wanted to live with her, but she didn't want to live with him," the employee said of Chang and Lee.

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Unsettled divorce led to murder-suicide, friends say

by Daniel DeBolt / Mountain View Voice

Uploaded: Tue, May 18, 2010, 11:55 am

The man believed to have shot his ex-wife before shooting himself Friday wanted to resume living with his ex-wife -- or be paid for his share of the home and dry cleaning business they had once owned together, friends and co-workers said Monday, May 17.

In the city's first murder since 2008, Cho Yong Chang, 70, and his ex-wife In Ku Lee, 62, were found dead May 14 inside Vogue Dry Cleaners on Escuela Avenue by an employee. Both had been shot and a gun was found at the scene, police said. There was no sign of breaking and entering.

Police are classifying the case as a murder-suicide, but are not ruling out the possibility of a double murder.

"We're not discounting the possibility that it could be a staged murder-suicide," police spokesperson Liz Wylie said Tuesday morning. "But so far we have uncovered nothing that points to that."

Police say Lee was shot by someone else several times in the torso and once to the head, while Chang died from one gunshot wound to the neck.

"Evidence gleaned during the autopsy further confirms our current classification as murder-suicide with (Chang) as the shooter," police spokesperson Liz Wylie said in an email Tuesday.

Siaby Singh, a clerk at the 7-11 store across the street from Vogue Dry Cleaners, said that people in the neighborhood looked up to Chang, and that some even called him "Mayor." Chang would visit businesses in the nearby strip malls several times a day to socialize.

"People went to him for help and advice," Singh said. When the warm food at 7-11 was about to expire, Chang would take it to a struggling family living behind the dry cleaners, Singh said. "That's the kind of person he was," Singh said.

"He was a trustworthy guy," Singh said. "It was like losing family."

Chang worked for Lee after their divorce in order to make a living because "he had to," Singh said. Santa Clara County court records reportedly show that Lee had been ordered to pay Chang $350,000 in their 2004 divorce in which Lee became owner of a Santa Clara home. Years later, Chang felt he had still not received his share, Singh said, but "he was never angry."

"Let me get my share and go back to Japan," is what Chang was saying to his ex-wife, Singh said. Chang was born in Japan but of Korean descent, according to an employee of the dry cleaner.

By all accounts, Chang was a "nice, friendly guy," said an employee Tony and Alba's Pizza, another business at the corner of Latham and Escuela streets where Chang would socialize with the staff. "He will definitely be missed," said the employee, who asked that his name not be used.

Anthony Salciccia Jr., whose family owns Tony and Alba's, said people in the neighborhood were shocked and saddened by the deaths.

Chang and Lee had also operated Calderon Dry Cleaners at Calderon and Church streets. Both stores were apparently signed over to Lee at some point, though Chang had been an owner for over 20 years, friends said. Both Lee and Chang also had children from previous marriages.

An employee of the Calderon store said Chang would come in daily to help run the place, which is now managed by a daughter of Lee's. He seemed "lonely and depressed," the employee said. "He didn't have any hope."

"He wanted to live with her, but she didn't want to live with him," the employee said of Chang and Lee.

Comments

blip
Cuesta Park
on May 18, 2010 at 1:18 pm
blip, Cuesta Park
on May 18, 2010 at 1:18 pm

Life is really tough and too many of us have problems. I really feel for both families and am so saddened that their lives ended this way. Both of them were so nice & always treated their customers with respect. It's really sad and scary to see what money does to us and see how our lives can just fall apart from it. Mountain View will never be the same w/o these two kind people. Even though it was definitely not the right way to go, I am glad they are no longer suffering. I hope that the families heal and grow from this difficult ordeal.


jus/me
Blossom Valley
on May 18, 2010 at 9:01 pm
jus/me, Blossom Valley
on May 18, 2010 at 9:01 pm


Have to agree w/ some of the comments made here re:
conributory nasty stuff which probably led to this double
tragedy. And to wonder if ruthless, money-grubbing lawyers
were wringing their paws as they "represented" their
respective clients. What a terrible, tragic waste.
Bless their souls.


loyal customer
another community
on May 19, 2010 at 11:05 pm
loyal customer, another community
on May 19, 2010 at 11:05 pm

I have been a loyal customer of Vogue Cleaners for over 16 years. I am deeply shocked and saddened over the tragic loss of both Cho and Ku. They have always been very kind and professional toward me. It's amazing that you can see people often and never know what is festering underneath. I only pray that their families will come together, do the right thing, and not allow the hurt and bitterness to continue. This is the only thing that will truly honor the memories of these two people. I will miss them terribly.


John the Man
Old Mountain View
on May 22, 2010 at 11:45 am
John the Man, Old Mountain View
on May 22, 2010 at 11:45 am

@loyal customer: this is a good example that unless you live with someone, you truly know nothing about them. What you see in public with people is never how they are in private. That isn't to say people are actually evil in private because most people are not.

What it is to say is that people are extremely complicated and people are guarded about what they allow other people to see. So what you see in public is never the total of what people are actually like and it's always a biased presentation anyway.

That's why I'm never surprised when someone says of a person like the shooter here, 'Gosh, he seemed so nice.' Most people are, it's not a good ruler of someone's actual personality.

Here was a guy who was certainly very very nice in public and to the public, but still who bought a gun, got angry enough to load that gun, then to take that gun out and shoot someone else with it. That act spoke a LOT about his personality, at least as much as being a nice guy in public.


old friend
another community
on May 24, 2010 at 12:28 am
old friend, another community
on May 24, 2010 at 12:28 am

I have known Joe for over 21 yrs. He was Vougue Cleaners!!!!! I believe that I know him better than alot of people and definitely more than anyone who has posted a comment thus far. I do know that Greed can be a huge determinator as to why a person could be pushed over the edge to do what Joe has possibly done.

Joe, you will be missed by everyone and I will miss you old friend. Thanks for the all of the conversations and good times that we shared. Thank you also for being you and for going the extra mile to clean my ink stained shirts, replace my wife pants after an employee ruined them and also to clean many people wedding (vintage and post wedding) dresses that no one would ever dare to touch.

We love you and will miss you!
Reggie & Amanda


Army Friend
another community
on May 14, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Army Friend, another community
on May 14, 2012 at 8:13 pm

This may be two years after the fact, but I met Joe in Korea while stationed at Camp Walker 74-76. Decades later, in 2005 I ran into him at 7/11 across the street from his dry cleaners store! He told me he came to America in 1978 and I already knew he was a workaholic having saved up money to come here and start a business. I was dismayed to learn of his and his ex's demise and pray that God will forgive any wrongdoings and that they will both reside in heaven for all eternity.


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