Woman arrested in girl's death

A Rowland Heights woman is accused of abusing and killing the 22-month-old baby girl she and her husband adopted two months ago from China.

Dianne Buu Lin, 36, was arrested last week on suspicion of first-degree murder and assault on a chi ld causing death. The pregnant Lin is being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in lieu of $1 million bail. She will appear Dec. 5 at Pomona Superior Court.

Her husband, 36-year-old Perry Yu Lin, was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact. He is out on $20,000 bail.

Perry Lin couldn't be reached for comment on Thursday.

The baby, whose name wasn't released, died Nov. 2 at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. Hospital staff called in Fullerton police, who suspected child abuse. The case was turned over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

"The cause of death actually was a brain hemorrhage,' said Lt. Al Grotefend of the sheriff's Homicide Bureau. "Other injuries indicate serious abuse. ... This poor kid never had a chance.'

The coroner feels the majority of the trauma occurred recently, he said.

Dianne Lin allegedly told deputies the child fell or that she dropped the baby.

The baby was taken to the Fullerton hospital because the couple took a first- aid class there and they were no t familiar with the hospitals in the local area, Grotefend said.

Deputies were assisted by an FBI task force when they made the arrests. Grotefend said they were concerned that until they got the autopsy results, the couple might flee the country.

In the two months that the Lins had the baby, police were never called to their Rowland Heights home on Royston Place and neighbors never heard anything, deputies said.

Ruby Gonzales can be reached at (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2718, or by e-mail at ruby.gonzales@sgvn.com.