Trans NYT Executive Claimed Wife Blamed 'His Genetics' for Her Miscarriage Before He Was Murdered

Jonathan McKinsey, the New York Times Games engineering director fatally shot in California, alleged in a court submission that his estranged wife rejected his proposal to use his eggs to conceive, referring disparagingly to his genetics. He also described carrying a pregnancy that ended with their son dying shortly after premature birth.

Reporting published on 8 October detailed allegations in his December 2025 submission about events more than a decade earlier. McKinsey, 40, was killed at Dublin Sports Grounds on 26 September, and his parents-in-law were subsequently charged with murder. The marital allegations are separate from the criminal charges and have not been established as findings of fact in the material reviewed for this article.

Genetics Allegation Concerned IVF Decisions

In the submission, McKinsey alleged that Candice Jang rejected his suggestion that the couple use his eggs, referring to his genetics in disparaging terms. He subsequently carried an embryo created through her IVF treatment.

The allegation concerned the couple's choice of eggs. It did not establish that Jang blamed genetics for the subsequent loss, or that genetics caused their son's death.

The New York Post reported the account from a December 2025 court submission it said had been obtained by the California Post.

McKinsey Described Pregnancy During Marriage

McKinsey's description of the pregnancy formed part of his account of alleged abuse during the marriage, rather than a medical assessment of the birth.

He said he was a full-time graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, and a part-time teaching assistant during the pregnancy in November 2014. He alleged that Jang repeatedly started arguments because she was jealous that he was pregnant.

His account also described feeling vulnerable as a pregnant transgender man, with limited options for leaving the situation.

Filing Included Allegations of Abuse

McKinsey alleged that Jang required him to sleep on a futon in the living room while she occupied the bed. He also claimed that she once threw a cup that struck his stomach.

He described feeling frightened that she might injure him or the baby. These were allegations in his account of the marriage, not findings established by the reporting available for this article.

Earlier reporting on the couple's marital dispute described competing allegations of abuse. The material reviewed for this article does not establish how a court resolved the specific allegations concerning the pregnancy.

Son Died Shortly After Premature Birth

McKinsey described moving from Berkeley to San Jose when he was 22 weeks pregnant and experiencing severe nausea. Although movers had been hired, he alleged that Jang required him to carry heavy boxes.

He said he noticed bleeding afterwards and sought emergency medical attention. He also alleged that Jang shouted at him during the journey to hospital.

Their son, Romeo Preston McKinsey, was born prematurely and lived for less than an hour, according to McKinsey's account.

McKinsey wrote that he believed carrying the boxes had triggered premature labour. The available reporting does not independently establish that medical explanation or that Jang's alleged conduct caused the baby's death.

His account describes a baby who was born alive and subsequently died. It also distinguishes the earlier disagreement over egg selection from his belief about what triggered the premature birth.

Parents-in-Law Charged Over Fatal Shooting

Alameda County prosecutors announced on 30 September that his parents-in-law, Shouyong Zhang and Shili Chen, both 77, had been charged with murder in connection with his death.

The charges also include allegations of personal firearm use causing death and the special circumstance of lying in wait. Prosecutors said each defendant could face life imprisonment without the possibility of parole if convicted.

The charges have not been adjudicated. They concern the fatal shooting and remain distinct from McKinsey's allegations about his marriage and the circumstances surrounding his son's birth.