So many heinous crimes are committed regularly, but I think murder-suicides disturb me the most. It feels like the epitome of selfish. It’s one thing to commit suicide, a tragedy in and of itself, but to take down others with you — to not even give them a chance at a life outside of you and whatever the situation is — feels especially cruel. It’s hard to wrap one’s head around, but what if the victim was a willing participant? Three years after a gruesome murder-suicide plot rocked a Canadian community, authorities think that is exactly what happened to a family of four.
In June 2023, police found Christopher Duong dead alongside his wife, Janet Nguyen, and their two sons in their home in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada, according to People. The two boys, who had teddy bears at their feet, died by asphyxia, per the CBC. RCMP Corp. Matthew Blumberg testified that before the gruesome plot was carried out, the pair recorded a video will that actually detailed who should take custody of their children and manage their property if something should happen to them, the CBC reported.
Blumberg noted that Duong’s phone records from the day the will was recorded revealed some interesting queries, including how to drop off children at a fire station, painless ways to commit suicide, and several searches for flights.
The same day of the will recording, Duong was pulled over while driving Nguyen and their children around in an effort to stay mobile and “not be tracked down,” which led authorities to take him in under the Mental Health Act. The man’s long-time family doctor who saw him that day testified Duong was “very friendly and calm and co-operative” and he saw no concern for his mental state so he was released, per the CBC. Three days later, all were found dead.
Although authorities say it is unclear who killed the children, they determined that Nguyen, who was reportedly strangled with an electric cord, showed no signs of resistance to the “attack.”
Authorities also revealed that Duong was well-known to them as he was believed to have connections with a notorious drug trafficking ring and believed that they had a “hit” out on him and his family, per the CBC.
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
