Lutz, FL: Deputies charge Lutz man after wife's death linked to abuse

By Marissa Lang, Times Staff Writer
In Print: Saturday, September 17, 2011


LUTZ — A 45-year-old man who deputies said beat his wife and threatened the lives of his children was charged with murder Friday after officials determined abuse led to his wife's death.

Chunping Lin, 45, of 14912 Lake Forest Drive has been in jail since May 25, when deputies arrested him on charges of domestic battery, child abuse and attempted murder. On Friday, officials added second-degree murder to his list of charges after the Hillsborough County medical examiner determined Lin's wife, Lixin Tian, 43, suffered brain damage as a result of blunt-force trauma.

Tian was taken off life support and died at St. Joseph's Hospital on July 15, deputies said.

Deputies said that around 2:15 a.m. on May 25, Chunping Lin began to beat Tian and pull her hair. He beat her so badly that her arm was broken and she suffered "severe brain bleeding," according to an arrest affidavit.

When the couple's 10-year-old child, Derek, tried to defend his mother, Lin knocked him to the floor, where the boy fell on broken glass and cut his finger, deputies said. Tian's older son, Boyu Zhang, 19, also tried to intervene, deputies said. But as he attempted to restrain Lin so Derek and their mother could escape, Lin bit Zhang on the left arm, deputies said.

Tian and her two sons eventually made it out of the house. Lin ran after them, deputies said, shouting death threats.

The mother and sons tried to escape in Tian's red Lexus, but in their frenzied attempt, Derek fell out of the moving car, deputies said. His foot was run over by one of the back wheels.

When Tian realized her son had been injured, she leaped out of the car to help him. Zhang pinned Lin on the ground until deputies arrived, officials said.

Derek was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital with minor injuries; Zhang and Tian both refused medical help at the scene, officials said.

Shortly afterward, Tian began feeling pain in her head. Zhang drove his mother to St. Joseph's Hospital, where she underwent surgery and never regained consciousness.

Lin is being held without bail.