A man accused of brutally killing his elderly mother in Chinatown just before Christmas has been placed in a drug rehabilitation program that significantly shortened his sentence, despite his history of multiple arrests and a diagnosis of schizophrenia, according to reports.
Wei Hou, originally from China, received a two-year prison sentence in June 2025 for a drug-related felony. However, he was instead assigned to a 90-day treatment program at Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in Chautauqua County, as stated by officials.
Had he served the full term, Hou, 41, would have been incarcerated until 2027.
Records indicate he completed the drug program on October 14 and was released on parole. Just two months later, he allegedly killed his 76-year-old mother, Zhu Hou, at her apartment on Monroe Street, as authorities reported.
One law enforcement official commented, “They should have considered his background. He should not have been in a program that led to early release.”
Insiders mentioned that the Lakeview facility was intended for first-time offenders, not those with extensive arrest histories or mental health issues.
After being arrested for the murder on December 24, it was noted by the U.S. Marshals Service that Hou had previous arrests in other states, although details of those charges were not disclosed.
Sources have pointed out that Hou had struggled with mental health problems, particularly schizophrenia.
Police records revealed that Hou had exhibited violent behavior since an incident in Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric ward back in July 2011.
His mother had contacted the police on two occasions about his mental state—once before his imprisonment and again afterward. On February 9, 2025, she alerted the authorities that he wasn’t taking his medication and had a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Just days before her death, on December 5, 2025, she called the police again, reporting that a man was “breaking down the door and muttering to himself.” She described her son as emotionally unstable and mentioned his drug use history. Police intervened and transported him to Bellevue Hospital, though it remains unclear when he was released.
According to sources familiar with the facility, Hou should not have been accommodated at Lakeview.
One source pointed to New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s “Less-is-More” law from 2022, suggesting it encourages courts to place offenders in the least restrictive programs available.
“He shouldn’t have been released in just 90 days, subsequently killing his mother,” the source remarked.
The state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has yet to respond to inquiries about whether it was aware of Hou’s criminal and mental health background.
