Investigators say the suspect told detectives he killed her after an argument.
AUBURN, WA — A 30-year-old man was arrested in the death of his mother after deputies found her unresponsive inside a condominium near Auburn on Feb. 24, according to court records. Investigators said the man later told detectives he believed he had killed her after an argument about school and finances.
The case quickly moved from a welfare check to a homicide investigation as sheriff’s deputies secured the condo and called in major crimes detectives. Prosecutors said in court the evidence supports probable cause for second-degree murder, and a judge set bail at $2 million while investigators prepare a formal case referral. Authorities have said there is no threat to the public, but charging decisions were still pending as the investigation continued this week.
Deputies with the King County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call in the early afternoon of Feb. 24 at a condominium in the 28700 block of 34th Avenue South, in an unincorporated area near Auburn. A 911 caller told dispatchers he had come home and found a woman on the floor, wrapped in blankets, with injuries to her face. When deputies entered through an unlocked door, they found the woman unresponsive with swollen eyes and blood coming from her nose, court documents said. Fire and medical crews tried lifesaving measures outside the residence, but she was pronounced dead at 2:09 p.m. The caller, who owned the condo and rented out a room, told deputies he did not have a cellphone and went to a neighbor’s home to place the 911 call after making the discovery.
Investigators identified the victim as Thuy Nu Thu Ton. Her son, Antony Ton Le, was booked into jail for investigation of murder, authorities said. The condo owner told deputies he had known Le for years and rented him a room. He also told investigators that Ton often stayed at the condo to care for her son, including cooking and cleaning. The owner said Le had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and had a history of violence when not taking medication, according to the probable cause statement. The owner told deputies that Le stopped taking prescribed medication about five months earlier and had become more hostile toward both him and Ton. The owner said he left for work around 1:30 a.m. that day, with Ton resting on the couch and Le believed to be in his bedroom. When he returned shortly after 1 p.m., he noticed blankets piled on the living room floor and found Ton underneath them.
Deputies set a perimeter around the condo and tried to make contact with Le, who did not respond, documents said. A tactical team later entered and found him in a bedroom. He was taken into custody without incident at about 3:58 p.m., according to court records, and was transported to SeaTac City Hall for an interview with major crimes detectives. During a recorded interview, investigators said Le told detectives he believed he had killed his mother after an argument about school and finances. He described grabbing her in a chokehold, throwing her to the ground and stomping on her neck multiple times, according to the probable cause statement. He also told detectives he put pillows and blankets on top of her afterward to “heal” her and did not call 911. Investigators said he described hearing her make noises for about 30 minutes before she died, then washing his clothes and going to bed.
In the interview, detectives said Le made a series of statements that did not track with the questions, including comments about demons, possession and artificial intelligence videos. KIRO 7 reported that he told police a demon had “possessed” him. Investigators also wrote that Le acknowledged that part of his statement was not true, but continued to say he killed his mother. Detectives said the account, combined with evidence gathered at the scene, supported the arrest for investigation of murder. Authorities have not released a detailed account of what led to the argument, and court records did not list a clear motive beyond the suspect’s description of the dispute. Investigators have also not publicly described any injuries beyond what was observed at the scene and summarized in the probable cause statement.
At Le’s first court appearance on Feb. 25, prosecutors asked a judge to set bail at $2 million, arguing there was probable cause for second-degree murder. The judge agreed and set bail at that amount. The case is still in an early stage, and a first appearance hearing is not a formal charging decision. Prosecutors said the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office had not yet received the formal felony referral from sheriff’s office investigators but expected to receive it by Friday for a charging decision. Le remained in custody after the hearing. If charges are filed, the case would move to arraignment, where a defendant is formally notified of the charges and enters a plea.
Neighbors in the gated community watched the police response unfold as deputies and specialized units worked around the condo, according to local reports and images from the scene. Investigators have not said whether anyone else was inside the home at the time of the reported assault, aside from the victim and suspect. The condo owner told deputies he left Ton on the couch in the early morning hours and believed Le was in his room, then returned to find Ton on the floor beneath blankets. Authorities have not said where the victim lived full time or how often she stayed at the condo, but the owner told investigators she frequently came to provide care for her son. The sheriff’s office has said there is no danger to the public, and officials have not announced any public briefings.
The investigation remained active on Feb. 27, with prosecutors expected to decide whether to file charges after receiving investigators’ referral. Le is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Author note: Last updated Feb. 27, 2026.