A horrific murder took place in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle. A 21-year-old engineering student at the University of Washington, Angelina Tran, was fatally stabbed over 100 times while trying to shield her mother from her enraged stepfather.
According to charging documents, Tran woke up early that morning after hearing a struggle in her family’s home. Her stepfather, Nghiep Kein Chau, 54, had violently assaulted her mother in the kitchen, delivering at least 12 punches. In a courageous act, Tran intervened to protect her mother, but Chau turned his aggression towards both women.
Tran’s mother managed to escape and called 911, while Tran bravely tried to restrain Chau. However, Chau grabbed a knife and proceeded to stab Tran a shocking 107 times. The charging documents revealed that Chau paused his attack multiple times, even changing his clothes and switching knives. Disturbingly, home security footage captured Chau searching for Tran’s mother after she had contacted the police.
Officers arrived at the scene shortly before 5 a.m. and discovered Tran’s mother with facial injuries and Chau still holding the blood-stained knife. Chau allegedly confessed, stating, “I killed somebody.” He was immediately taken into custody. During police questioning, Chau, through an interpreter, claimed that he had been arguing with his wife, fearing she would divorce him and take his money.
Chau admitted to becoming further enraged when Tran intervened, expressing his intention to kill his wife if he had found her before the authorities arrived. Search warrants were subsequently obtained, and evidence, including home security footage capturing the initial assault and much of the stabbing, was seized from the residence.
Chau now faces charges of first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. Due to concerns about flight risk and potential danger to the community, prosecutors successfully argued for a $5 million bond, and Chau is currently being held at the King County Correctional Facility. An arraignment initially scheduled for Wednesday has been rescheduled for August 31.
In the wake of this devastating loss, friends and family of Angelina Tran have established a fundraiser in her memory, with all donations going to the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging. The fundraiser aims to honor Tran’s commitment to making a difference in the lives of elderly individuals, reflecting her compassionate spirit and the impact she had on those fortunate enough to know her.