Los Gatos, CA—In a grim turn of events, John Maxey Yeager, a 56-year-old resident of Los Gatos, was arrested by the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department for the murder of his wife, YingYing "Dawn" Yu, aged 40. The police were alerted on January 8, when Dawn had not been in touch with her employer since the onset of the New Year and was unreachable, triggering an extensive and collaborative investigative effort. According to information released by the police department, suspicions were raised when the information given by John Yeager clashed with the evidence gathered by officers.
The investigation into Yu's disappearance unveiled signs of a domestic violence altercation on the night of December 31, 2023, naming Yu as the victim. On January 10, the police assembled a comprehensive team consisting of members from the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, the Crime Laboratory, and several other enforcement and support agencies. Ensuring the safety of the children in the home, they worked diligently to follow up on this troubling case. John Yeager, found traveling to a remote area along Summit Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains earlier this year, was arrested on January 11 and charged in connection to the December 31st incident.
Adding to the stern resolve of this case, human remains were discovered on January 13 in a remote area of the Santa Cruz Mountains, a place led to by piecing together the travels of Yeager. While awaiting confirmation from the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner, the remains are believed to be those of his missing wife, Dawn Yu. The Police Department has publicly thanked numerous agencies, including the United States Department of Homeland Security and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, for their assistance during the investigation.
Expressing their "deepest condolences to all who knew Dawn Yu," the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police maintain their investigation is ongoing. Currently held at the Santa Clara County Jail, additional charges related to his wife's murder have been brought against John Yeager. Detectives urge anyone with additional information to contact Detective Mike Birley at 408-827-3219 or via email at [email protected], assuring the community of their continuous efforts to uncover the full scope of this tragic incident.
