Anniversary Service & Candlelight Walk in Memory of Teenager Jenny Lin Murdered in Castro Valley 32 Years Ago

At the 32nd anniversary of the loss of Jenny Lin, her family is hosting a memorial service on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the Castro Valley Library (3600 Norbridge Avenue) to honor the
teenage girl. Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez will be present to give an update on the investigation effort of this heinous crime. Following the ceremony will be a candlelight walk in downtown Castro Valley to remind the public of the unsolved murder and to raise awareness of child safety. Everyone is invited to share this special occasion.

Schedule for the service on Friday, May 22, 2026:
6:15 p.m. Reception
7:00 p.m. Ceremony followed by Candlelight Walk.

Here is the background of Jenny’s case:
A young, talented musician and a straight-A student, Jenny Lin, was murdered in her own home on May 27, 1994, at the age of 14. This brutal death devastated her family and shocked the community. Jenny’s parents, John and Mei-lian Lin, vowed to continue working with the police until the case is solved, and to carry on Jenny’s dreams to see her life extended in a unique, philanthropic fashion.

For 32 years, the Jenny Lin Foundation has offered music scholarships and free music programs to the community each year, and has organized numerous child safety fairs, workshops and contests to raise awareness of child safety issues, and to improve safety knowledge and precautions for parents and children. In addition, the Foundation has worked on a safety book project in collaboration with the East Bay public libraries. Titles covering a wide range of safety-related topics were added to its collection.

To date, there is still no arrest or conviction related to Jenny’s murder. However, her family remains hopeful that through continuous police effort and public help, this senseless, horrifying case will one day be solved.

A reward of $200,000 is available for the arrest and conviction of Jenny’s killer. Anyone with information please call the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department at (510) 667-3636 or the toll-free hotline at (855) 4-JENNY-LIN.