One year, less a day, from the night police say John Maxey Yeager strangled his wife, Yingying Yu, to death, he was held to answer for felony false imprisonment and murder charges, in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Meanwhile, Yu’s estate has filed a series of lawsuits against Yeager, who remains in custody, claiming he’d agreed to give her a house in Washington State and also owes at least $400,000 related to their Los Gatos property.
On Dec. 30, Deputy District Attorney O’Bryan Kenney brought several pieces of evidence to the Hall of Justice courtroom in San Jose, including video footage and a copy of Yu’s autopsy report.
Defense lawyer Leah Nicole Gillis did not enter any exhibits into evidence on Yeager’s behalf.
According to investigators, Yeager admitted to killing his wife under questioning.
He pleaded not guilty to all charges Nov. 1.
Judge Franklin Bondonno found there was enough evidence to proceed to trial at the Monday hearing.
He also found the use of a deadly weapon allegation to be true.
Six other special circumstances allegations were not addressed at the inquiry.
As first reported by WorldJournal.com, civil filings from Yu’s estate have revealed more about what was happening—or wasn’t happening—leading up to her death.
(zillow.com)
On July 19, Annie Castellino sued Yeager for breach of contract and asked the judge to hand over the deed to a home he owns in Jefferson County, Washington.
It also states that Yeager was physically abusive towards Yu, who he married on May 15, 2020.
“On March 2, 2023, Ms. Yu went to the doctor for a prenatal exam, and the doctor determined that she had been abused. On that same day, the police came to the Yeager home,” the Complaint reads.
“On or around March 15, 2023, John Yeager agreed to give Yingying Yu the real property located at 171 Condon Lane, Port Ludlow, Washington, in exchange for Yingying Yu’s agreement not to seek further support from him. He reduced this to writing, signed it, and gave it to Ms. Yu.”
They’d already had a girl together. And on July 30 that year, Yu’s son was born.
That same month, Yu found a lawyer to help her file for divorce, the suit adds.
But in the end, she never went through with it.
When Yeager killed her last New Year’s, it effectively violated their written agreement for the Washington property, according to Stephen Picone, of San Jose-based Picone & Defilippis, the estate’s lawyer.
“Defendant John Yeager breached the agreement with Ms. Yu on December 31, 2023 when he intentionally killed her by strangulation with a rope, thus preventing her from seeking a divorce and obtaining the benefit of the bargain,” he wrote in the Complaint. “Yeager has further breached the agreement by attempting to list and sell the real property, without regard to the Estate of Yingying Yu’s beneficial ownership interest in the property.”
According to redfin.com, the house was last sold on Dec. 8, 2000, for $400,000, but is worth around $1.2 million now.
A modernaehomes.com listing indexed by Google in April 2024 included this tantalizing description of the property: “Experience unparalleled beauty & comfort in this stunning waterfront custom-built home, breathtaking views of Mt Baker & Puget Sound.”
It’s currently off the market, per zillow.com.
Castellino is asking the court to impose a constructive trust over the property, declare that Yeager holds its title as a trustee and name Yu’s estate the beneficial owner of that trust.
On Sept. 11, Yeager submitted a denial to this suit from jail.
By this time, he was already facing a second suit—for the “wrongful death” of his wife.
“YEAGER confessed to strangling DECEDENT to death with a rope on New Years Eve and then disposing her body in the Santa Cruz Mountains after,” reads the Complaint, signed by Castellino’s lawyer Steve M. Defilippis.
The lawsuit, which was filed Aug. 26, adds Yu was “chased, threatened, falsely imprisoned, abused, and strangled to death with a rope with her young children under the same roof, and then discarded by YEAGER trying to cover up his murderous acts.”
This civil action claims negligence, battery and wrongful death torts, and seeks general damages for pain and suffering and loss of love, companionship and comfort, plus special damages for medical and funeral expenses—as well as legal costs and other relief.
Yeager filed a general denial on Oct. 15.
On Sept. 16, Castellino filed another breach of contract suit against Yeager.
This one pertains to the Los Gatos property.
The estate claims that, on April 2, just a few months before Yu’s death, the couple entered into a contract whereby Yeager would sell the residence at 285 Hershner Ct. and buy a new house with both parties’ names on the deed.
And by the way, Picone stated in the Complaint, Yeager agreed that if he hadn’t sold the property by 2031 he’d have to pay Yu $400,000.
“In exchange for these promises, Yingying Yu agreed not to pursue her remedies against John Yeager for personal injury and not to seek further support from him,” the lawyer wrote. “By killing Yingying Yu, John Yeager breached the Agreement and prevented Yingying Yu from receiving the benefits due under the Agreement.”
Castellino wants the court to order a lien for the Los Gatos house, $400,000 or more in damages on top of a one-half interest in 285 Hershner Ct., and a constructive trust over the property “for the benefit of the Estate of Yingying Yu.”
Yeager denied these allegations in a filing Oct. 15.
He’s now required to appear at an arraignment hearing on Jan. 13, at 9am in Dept. 24.
