The Irvine Police Department has officially arrested a 42-year-old male suspect for the murder of his wife. The suspect, Yunlong Bai, confessed to killing Chao Chen, 33, who the suspect claims was his wife of more than a dozen years.

IPD detained Bai, along with another unnamed individual, a day before charging Bai with murder.

The crime occurred on Tuesday, May 4, inside a gated community east of Alton Parkway and Eagle Creek, on a street named Red Apple.

In a statement, IPD Sergeant Karie Davies said IPD was alerted to a potential homicide after Bai, who was on probation, called his probation officer to report his involvement in a homicide at his residence.

“Yesterday at 1:00 p.m. an Orange County probation officer received a phone call from a probationer here, stating he killed his wife and would be waiting for police at his residence. The probation officer immediately notified the Irvine Police Department and IPD dispatchers sent multiple officers to the residence with a code 3 (lights and sirens) emergency response. Officers arrived at the home and located and another male inside. They also located a female victim on the floor, who had signs of trauma and appear to be deceased. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) assisted and confirmed the woman had died.”

The other individual obtained from the Red Apple residence was someone renting a room within the home, and IPD has confirmed the individual did not have any involvement in the murder.

After his arrest, Bai was transferred to Orange County Jail where he is being held under a $1,130,000 bail.

In an email to Irvine Weekly, Davies said Bai was on probation after being convicted of domestic violence last year.

“Mr. Bai is on probation for a domestic violence case back in October 2020. He was placed on probation in December 2020.”

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