Going West: True Crime

Episode 535: Jenny Lo Chang
Release Date: September 5, 2025
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman (Dark West Productions)

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the haunting and brutal unsolved murder of Jenny Lo Chang, a promising 19-year-old biology student at San Francisco State University in 1977. Daphne and Heath reconstruct Jenny’s life, the circumstances of her disappearance, and the shocking details of her murder on campus. They examine the investigation, the chilling presence of a key suspect, and why the case remains unsolved nearly 50 years later. The hosts also address how campus safety, the context of 1970s San Francisco, and rampant rumors contributed to community reactions and enduring family grief.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Background: Jenny Lo Chang

• Family & Early Life:

  • Born February 5, 1958, in Los Angeles to Chinese immigrant parents. One of six children.
  • Moved to attend San Francisco State University partly due to her father’s connection to the city.

• College Experience:

  • Studious, on the Dean’s List for three out of four semesters.
  • Majoring in biology, aspiring to become a dentist.
  • Known for being quiet, practical (made her own clothes), and responsible. Not involved in drinking, drugs, or partying.
  • Maintained a long-distance relationship with a boyfriend in Long Beach, CA.

"She was quiet, hardly anyone knew her. She didn't smoke or drink and wasn't a party person. She studied all the time."
— Friend, Lynn Hilliard [07:29]

Timeline of the Crime

• Disappearance:

  • Last seen by roommate Ann Thorson on Sunday, September 11, 1977, around 6:00 pm, headed to the basement library.
  • No witnesses reported seeing her en route; her low profile and small circle meant few clues.
  • By 6:00 am, Ann realized Jenny hadn’t come home and immediately reported her missing.

• Discovery:

  • At 11:00 pm the previous night, the library closed. Next morning, psychology professor Robert Suchek found Jenny’s body in a locked fourth-floor faculty reading room.
  • The body was identified by her roommate and friend Pearl Yee.

"At first Robert was so stunned by what he saw that he actually thought maybe some of the students were playing a prank on him... But when he realized with horror what had occurred... he called campus police immediately."
— Teeth [11:51]

Details of the Crime Scene

• Access:

  • The reading room was accessible only by key or key card, circulated to hundreds of staff and faculty. A master key had gone missing a month prior to the crime, widening the suspect pool.

• Condition:

  • Jenny was found nude, beaten, stabbed between 18 and 30 times with a small knife, and sexually assaulted.
  • Her clothing and belongings were neatly arranged by the door, yet the struggle had scattered furniture and thrown her sandals across the room.
  • Seminal fluid was found; the attack likely occurred between 7-11 pm.

"She had been brutally beaten, stabbed and sexually assaulted... Broken furniture lay scattered throughout the room, likely from her attempt to injure her captor after he trapped her and cornered her in that room."
— Teeth [20:19]

Campus Reactions and Institutional Responses

• Safety Concerns:

  • The first murder on the San Francisco State campus led to nighttime security increases, always-on hallway lighting, escort programs, and the "clumping system" (fluorescent poles for group walking).

• Student Criticism:

  • Students quickly blamed lax security, inadequate lighting, and unregulated access for enabling the tragedy.

"It shouldn't take somebody getting murdered for you to tighten shit up around here."
— Daphne [15:31]

The Investigation

• Leads & Challenges:

  • Over a thousand possible suspects due to widespread key distribution.
  • Notable homicide detectives David Toschi (Zodiac case) and Jack Cleary (Zebra Murders) led the investigation.
  • No romantic or personal enemies and no evidence Jenny did anything but go straight to the library.

• Crime Scene Specifics:

  • Locked room and vanished master key complicated narrowing down suspects.
  • Seminal fluid present but unclear if tested or stored for future DNA analysis.

• Suspect: Floyd McCoy

  • 23-year-old university library guard, on duty in the basement the night Jenny was killed.
  • Fired mysteriously one week after her murder.
  • Previously attacked another woman (escort) in July 1977, involving luring her to the 4th floor and attempting assault at gunpoint.
  • Later convicted in Nevada for sexual assaults while employed as a fire inspector, using his position for access.

“He finds jobs where he can be in power. That way he can just abuse it and take advantage of women.”
— Teeth [42:29]

• Evidence and Missed Opportunities:
  • McCoy never officially charged for Jenny’s murder due to lack of direct evidence.
  • Reports of a missing newspaper issue about McCoy’s earlier attack; hosts speculate he may have removed it.
  • Family and journalists (like Ellen Chen) have revived interest over the years, but advances like genealogical DNA haven’t, to public knowledge, been applied.

Alternative Theories

• Serial Killers:

  • Consideration of Zodiac, Golden State Killer, Rodney Alcala, due to SF’s 1970s context, but none fit the profile (access, MO, etc.) or had direct connections to Jenny.

• Gang Rumors:

  • Some speculated, based only on her ethnicity, possible Chinatown gang crossfire, but police and hosts dismiss this as baseless and grounded in racial stereotyping.

“Just because she's Chinese doesn't mean she's caught up with Chinatown gangs. Like, that's... yeah, guys.”
— Daphne [47:25]

Lasting Impact and Legacy

• Family’s Grief:

  • Jenny’s family, especially her brother Eddie, never received closure. Both parents died without answers.

• Campus Memorials:

  • A tree planted in her honor later fell, but a permanent plaque and the Jenny Lo Chang Memorial Scholarship remain at the university.

“The scholarship was meant for a student who will use their education and degree to, quote, advance the position of women. The Jenny Lo Chang Memorial Scholarship remains at SFSU today.”
— Daphne [56:09]

• Calls for Justice:
  • As recent as 2017, renewed calls for DNA testing were made. Floyd McCoy died in 2002 without confession, and legendary detective David Toschi passed away in 2018, but even he indicated there was a key person of interest, just insufficient evidence.

“He wanted me to let you know that there was a person of interest at the time, but there was insufficient evidence to proceed with that particular suspect.”
— Linda (Toschi’s daughter, quoting David Toschi) [54:22]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It feels, I mean it's not solved, but it feels like it is. Like Heath and I very much agree on this person of interest.”
  — Daphne [01:44]

• “But at some point in the evening, someone with exclusive access to a locked fourth floor reading room, room 432A, offered to bring 19 year old Jenny there for a more private studying experience.”
  — Teeth [09:53]

• “With advances in DNA testing, we can still kinda hold out hope that a perpetrator could be found, Even now, nearly 50 years later.”
  — Teeth [52:38]

• “What a mysterious case. But again, he I think you and I very much agree here.”
  — Daphne [57:34]
  “It's fucking Floyd McCoy fudgeing Floyd.”
  — Teeth [57:44]

Important Timestamps

• Jenny’s Background & College Life: [03:19 – 08:48]
• Last Sighting & Timeline of Disappearance: [08:54 – 11:40]
• Discovery of Jenny’s Body & Crime Scene Details: [11:51 – 21:37]
• Campus and Student Reactions: [14:32 – 17:37]
• Investigation Focus / Keycard Challenges: [18:47 – 24:11]
• Campus Security Changes ("Clumping System"): [25:39 – 27:37]
• Suspect: Floyd McCoy’s Background: [34:15 – 40:51]
• Alternative Suspects & Serial Killer Theories: [43:20 – 47:46]
• Family’s Pleas & Renewed Investigations: [48:13 – 54:11]
• Episode Wrap-Up & Jenny’s Legacy: [56:09 – End]

Recap & Tone

Throughout the episode, Daphne and Heath maintain a tone that is both empathetic and incredulous at the failures and missed opportunities of the investigation. They express frustration at institutional shortcomings and at the fact that, in their view, the likely perpetrator was never held accountable. While honoring Jenny Lo Chang’s life and promise, they emphasize the ongoing need for answers, justice, and remembrance.

“Resolution can still come for Jenny’s brothers and her sister, who very much want resolution here and deserve resolution here for Jenny’s brutal murder.”
— Daphne [57:47]

For Listeners

Anyone with information about the murder of Jenny Lo Chang is urged to contact the anonymous tip line at 415-553-1166.

This episode is a somber yet compelling deep-dive into campus safety, investigative hurdles, and the lingering pain of unsolved violent crime—while never losing sight of Jenny’s story as a person, not just a case.