An elderly man’s death was believed to have been from natural causes – until his son reviewed security cameras, which allegedly uncovered a ‘cold malice murder.’
Sy Van Nguyen, 94, was found dead in his hilltop vineyard mansion in Santa Rosa, California, on August 11 after his son-in-law reported him unresponsive, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency responders arrived at the mansion, and the 94-year-old man was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Authorities didn’t see signs of trauma on Nguyen’s body and had no reason to believe foul play occurred at the time.
However, on August 15, police received shocking video footage that alleged the man’s death was an ‘intentional killing’ and arrested his son-in-law, Khanh Trong Tran, 71.
Sergeant Juan Valencia said in an interview with local ABC affiliate, KGO-TV, that the man’s son saw the suspect grab a plastic bag and pillow to suffocate his father on camera.
‘The room where the elderly victim was at had surveillance cameras, the suspect knew the cameras were there,’ Valencia said.
‘This is a straight-up, cold malice murder,’ he added.
An elderly man was reported unresponsive in his hilltop vineyard mansion. Authorities initially believed his death was from natural causes
The family’s neighbor, Rod Burglund, was shocked to hear of the alleged murder, and said the suspect seemed like an ‘above board kind of guy’
The suspect, Khanh Trong Tran, lived on the same property as his father-in-law in a separate residence. He allegedly told detectives that he was ‘tired of providing’ for Sy Van Nguyen
Tran was providing care for his elderly father-in-law and lived on the same property in a separate residence.
The suspect wasn’t home when officers arrived to arrest him, but they later found him inside a vehicle.
Valencia said Tran told detectives that he was ‘tired of providing for his father-in-law who was 94 years old.’
He was arrested and booked into the county jail on August 16 for murder without bail.
The alleged murder has shocked the Santa Rosa community. The family’s neighbor, Rod Burglund, told KGO that Tran was ‘an above board kind of guy.’
Sergeant Juan Valencia told local reporters they received video footage of the alleged murder which depicted the suspect smothering his elderly father-in-law
‘There’s got to be alternatives than coming to this,’ he added.
Burglund said that Tran, whom he referred to as Ken, mostly kept to himself but that the two had a ‘walking acquaintance.’ He shared that he once made wine from the grapes on the family’s vineyard.
Tran’s next court date is scheduled for September 15, where he’s expected to enter a plea.
Daily Mail has reached out to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office for additional comment on the case.
