A man suspected of killing his two teenage nephews at their Arcadia home last week before fleeing to China told a court Monday he won't fight extradition to the United States.
Shi Deyun told a magistrate several times that he was willing to be sent back to the United States "as soon as possible," adding that the allegations against him weren't true.
Shi arrived Saturday afternoon in Hong Kong, a semiautonomous Chinese city, on a flight from Los Angeles. Police, acting on a request from U.S. officials, apprehended him at the airport. He was taken to a hospital and then formally arrested early Sunday.
Shi is wanted in connection with the double slaying of teen brothers William Lin, 15, and Anthony Lin, 16. The two were found with head trauma in their home located in the 400 block of Fairview Avenue after police responded to a 911 call on Friday just before 1 p.m.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Shi's wife was hospitalized on Thursday after he allegedly attacked her with the head of a hatchet at a home in La Canada Flintridge. Shi became enraged upon finding out that his wife had filed for divorce and obtained a restraining order against him, officials said.
Investigators believe the uncle may have forced his way inside the Arcadia home while the boys' parents were away tending to the suspect's wife at the hospital.
Shi declined the services of a duty lawyer and planned to represent himself. He was wearing a grey blazer over a black shirt and had a scratch on his right cheek. When the judge asked if he agreed to extradition, Shi said through a Mandarin interpreter, "I consent as soon as possible."
Shi also applied for bail, saying he could offer a "high amount of bail money" because he had assets in mainland China and the United States.
"The details of the allegations against me are not true," Shi said. "But I'm not inclined to go into the details and give a rebuttal here. I believe I will restore the truth in the U.S. with supporting facts."
He said he was in poor health and had a history of cardio disease and poor mental health. However, Chief Magistrate Clement Lee refused his application and he was remanded into custody. The case was adjourned until Feb. 11.
The teen boys were honored at a vigil Monday night by students, parenst and teachers at Arcadia High School.
"We had two bright lights that aren't here anymore. And we miss that," Brent Forsee, principal of Arcadia High School, said.
Many fellow students took to social media to express grief for the boys as a shrine grew on campus with flowers and black ribbons.
"They were both very, very intelligent and very kind and respectable," Travis Chen, a friend, said.
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Beverly White and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
