Twin Cities Man Charged with Murder and Manslaughter in Connection with Woman’s Death

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A 25-year-old man from the Twin Cities area is facing charges of murder and manslaughter following the death of a 53-year-old woman last month. Philip Jedidiah Wong, a resident of Little Canada, has been accused of killing Jianqin Zhang inside an Eagan hotel on October 12.

The Dakota County Attorney’s Office has confirmed that Zhang, who hailed from Shanghai City, China, was discovered deceased at the Microtel Inn & Suites. The Dakota County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled her death as a homicide caused by strangulation.

According to the criminal complaint filed on October 30, Zhang was found dead on a bed by her friend and a hotel worker. The friend informed the police that Zhang worked as a sex worker, and the organization she was affiliated with contacted the friend for a welfare check after not hearing from Zhang for several hours.

Surveillance Footage and Suspicious Evidence

The friend provided the phone number of Zhang’s final client, who was later identified as Philip Jedidiah Wong. Hotel surveillance footage revealed that Wong arrived at the hotel shortly before 3 p.m. on October 12 and left less than an hour later.

A hotel housekeeper informed the police that she entered the room to empty the trash cans approximately 40 minutes after Wong’s departure. It was during this time that she discovered Zhang’s lifeless body on the bed. She quickly exited the room and reported the incident.

Investigators found that Zhang had a 15-night reservation at the hotel. A search of her room uncovered various items, including several cellphones, condoms, a locked wallet, bloodstained sheets, pill bottles, food, clothes, and a hat that Wong had been wearing when he entered the hotel.

Text Message and Conflicting Statements

Further examination of Zhang’s cellphone revealed her last outgoing text message, sent to her employers approximately 10 minutes before Wong left the hotel. The message contained the Mandarin word for “walk.”

During the police search of Wong’s residence on October 17, investigators discovered clothes that matched those seen in the hotel’s security footage. Wong admitted to responding to an online ad and meeting Zhang at the hotel for a “massage and cuddle,” for which he paid extra for sex. He claimed to have showered and left the hotel, hearing Zhang’s phone ring as he exited and forgetting his hat in the process.

Wong also informed investigators that Zhang’s employers called him later that night to inform him of her death. However, he believed they were attempting to scam him for more money and dismissed their claims, according to the complaint.

Three days later, Wong’s roommate met with the police. She stated that Wong confessed to choking Zhang after she attempted to blackmail him following their sexual encounter. Wong claimed to have left thinking she was still breathing. The roommate revealed that Wong sought forgiveness, expressing uncertainty about his future and the duration of the trial.

On October 26, investigators once again spoke to Wong, who maintained his original story despite their knowledge of his roommate’s statement. Wong informed the police that his roommate did not handle the situation well and subsequently moved out. He also mentioned that he had shared minimal details of the investigation with his parents, expressing concerns about a potential extended period of incarceration.

The following day, one of Wong’s family members disclosed to the police that Wong had met with them a few days earlier, confessing to being involved in an “altercation” with Zhang. He intimated that he might be arrested soon for voluntary or involuntary manslaughter.

Charges and Potential Consequences

Wong was arrested and charged with second-degree murder without intent and first-degree manslaughter in late October. If convicted, he could face a maximum prison sentence of 55 years.