San Francisco mother of two charged with homicide and attempted homicide

By Angela Hokanson and Adam Martin, Bay City News Service

March 30, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO(BCN) - The mother who police believe tried to kill herself and her children in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon has now been charged in the death of her 3-year-old daughter and the attempted homicide of her 4-year-old son, police Officer Maria Oropeza said today.

An acquaintance found Linda Woo, 39, and the two children shortly before 2 p.m. inside a running car in the family's garage at 370 Moncada Way.

Woo was conscious and the boy and girl were unconscious, according to San Francisco fire Lt. Mindy Talmadge.

The daughter was pronounced dead at the house. The son remains at the University of California at San Francisco Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, Oropeza said.

Woo was initially taken to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment and has since been booked into San Francisco County jail.

Her husband was not at home at the time of the incident, but he returned after his wife and son had been transported to the hospital. "He was quite distraught,'' Talmadge said.

Janel Thamkul, 26, who lived across the street until leaving for school a year ago, said her neighbors are "a really cool, young couple,'' who had moved into the neighborhood within the past eight years.

She said, "The husband was a really nice guy. He'd always say hi to you.'' Thamkul said she had seen no evidence of strife in the family across the street. She had not talked to the wife, she said, but, "I'd always see them sitting on the steps with the kids.''

Thamkul described the block of mostly single-family homes as "totally mellow,'' and said, "most of the people around here are families.''

She said she had no idea that something was wrong. "I called my mom and she said, 'I don't believe it,'" Thamkul said.

Another neighbor, Shane Lee, said his 4-year-old son would sometimes play with the children across the street. The last time the kids played, about two months ago, Lee said, "They were riding bikes. I brought my son out and they played ball.''

Lee said his neighbors seemed like a happy family. "I'd always see them together,'' he said. "I didn't think such a thing would happen in this neighborhood.''

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