Canton Man Charged in Homicide of Wife
Published on September 11, 2025
Prosecutor Kym Worthy has charged Michael Shaonan Shen, 30, of Canton, in connection with homicide of Yu Zhao, 30, of New York, NY. Ms. Zhao is the wife of Defendant Shen. The defendant and his wife were living together in Canton at the time of the of the crime.
On September 8, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., Canton police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of Pinehurst Drive for reports of a person not breathing. Upon their arrival, officers observed the victim in the bedroom of the home, unresponsive. Medics arrived on the scene and transported Ms. Zhao to a local hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
It is alleged that on September 8, 2025, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Defendant Shen strangled his wife, causing her death. Complete facts and evidence will be placed on the record in court at the preliminary examination.
Michael Shaonan Shen has been charged with First-Degree Premeditated Murder.*
He was arraigned today in 35th District Court before Judge James Plakas and remanded to jail. The Probable Cause Conference is scheduled for September 19, 2025, and the Preliminary Examination is scheduled for September 26, 2025. Please request a photograph of the defendant from the Canton Police Department.
*The charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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