Community Corner
Castro Valley Teen to be Remembered 19 Years After Unsolved Murder
Jenny Lin was killed at her family's home in 1994. She was 14.
By Bay City News
Nearly two decades after a Castro Valley teenager was killed in her home, her family is honoring her memory with a ceremony, candlelight walk and art contest tonight.
Jenny Lin, known for her good grades and musical talents, was murdered at her family's home on May 27, 1994. She was 14.
In the 19 years since the unsolved murder, Jenny's family has held an anniversary ceremony and candlelight walk that will be held at 6:30 p.m.
at the Castro Valley Library at 3600 Norbridge Ave.
The walk will go through downtown Castro Valley and is open to the public. People will be carrying blue balloons in honor of the slain teenager, her father John Lin said.
The family has also formed the Jenny Lin Foundation, which is focused on raising awareness about child safety.
At tonight's ceremony, the winners of a child safety contest will be announced.
The contest included more than 50 high school, middle and elementary school students from nearly a dozen schools throughout the East Bay.
The students submitted artwork, poems and other work with the theme of preventing youth violence, Lin said.
State Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, will announce 13 winners from three different age groups at the ceremony, Lin said.
The winning artwork will be displayed at the Castro Valley Library until the end of June.
"The best way to cope with this loss," Lin said this morning, "is to give back to the community."
This the first year that the memorial contest has been organized, he said.
In past years, Jenny's family has held child safety information fairs, put up displays at the library and provided law enforcement workshops, such as self-defense training.
The foundation will continue its tradition of holding a free six-week music camp for middle and high school students at the Canyon Middle School in Castro Valley.
Jenny attended Canyon Middle School, where she was known for her skills on the viola, piano and other instruments.
At the end of the music camp, a concert will be held on Aug. 2 at Chabot College in Hayward.
Lin said more than 200 students have already enrolled in the program.
Despite the efforts to make the community safer after Jenny's horrific death, Lin said there is still "a lot of frustration that this case hasn't been solved."
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the murder, but there has yet to be a break in the case.
A $100,000 reward is still being offered for information in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Alameda County Sheriff's Office at (510) 667-7721 or (855) 4-JENNY-LIN.
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