On June 1st, 2022, a jury convicted William Li of
first-degree murder for the killing of Lijun Wang on February 5. 2017.

The jury deliberated for one day after a trial that lasted approximately nine court
days. Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Serratto prosecuted the case.

Mr. Li faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life. He had been released on a million-dollar bail prior to trial but was remanded into custody by Merced County Superior Court Judge Mark Bacciarini after the jury rendered its verdict.

On February 6th, 2017, at around 6:30 a.m, a homeless man discovered the body of Lijun Wang wrapped in multiple trash bags in an alley dumpster behind the Dollar Tree and Rite Aid stores at the Olive & G shopping center in the City of Merced.

An autopsy the following day revealed that
she had been strangled to death. In her pocket, authorities located a receipt dated 2/5/17 at 10:19 a.m. from a grocery store in the City of San Mateo.

An intensive investigation over the course of the following months led the Merced Police Department to William Li who worked in San Mateo and lived in San Francisco. Mr. Li’s 2001 Mercedes Benz sedan was seen on video surveillance in the Dollar Tree/Rite Aid alley at around 7:49 pm the night of February 5th, 2017.

Cell phone records showed him leaving the Bay Area that afternoon and driving to Merced and immediately returning to the Bay Area that night.

On April 14th, 2017, Merced Police department detectives served search warrants at both Mr. Li’s residence and business, Mr. Li was arrested and subsequently charged for the murder of Lijun Wang. Sentencing is scheduled for June 28th, 2022.