A 21-year-old college student died on August 7 from a brutal knife attack. Angelina Tran was reportedly attempting to defend her mother from her stepfather, Nghiep Kein Chau, 54, when the man allegedly stabbed her more than 100 times as her mother escaped to call 911.
Chau reportedly attacked Tran because she got into the middle of a physical altercation between the couple. Home surveillance video reportedly captured the attack and subsequent killing, producing damning evidence against the accused.
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Tran reportedly heard her mother and stepfather arguing.
Tran awoke early to sounds of a struggle in her family's home in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood on August 7, according to the New York Post. She went to the kitchen, where she allegedly saw Chau punching her mother at least 12 times, according to charging documents obtained by the news outlet. Tran attempted to save her mother, but Chau reportedly began to attack both women.
"This murder appeared to be the result of anger at his stepdaughter for intervening in the defendant's attack on her mother. Angelina Tran's intervention allowed her mother to escape and hide in a nearby bedroom, but the defendant did not stop his attack," a complaint obtained by Fox News reads.
Her mother ran to a bedroom to call for help.
As the struggle between Chau and Tran continued, her mother was able to get to another room to call 911. According to a probable cause statement obtained by Fox News, Chau allegedly killed Tran, per video surveillance from inside the home. The enraged stepfather allegedly threw Tran to the ground and stabbed her 107 times.
Chau changed his clothes during the attack and allegedly grabbed a second weapon to continue stabbing the young woman, Fox News reported.
Police arrived at the house around 5 a.m. to find a gruesome scene.
Police arrived and found Tran's unidentified mother bleeding from the face, according to the Post. They went into the home and reportedly found Chau covered in blood and holding a knife. He allegedly told police, "I killed somebody."
The newspaper reported that the couple had been married for 19 years. He allegedly told police via an interpreter that he bickered with his wife because he believed she wanted to divorce him and take his money. He added if had he had found his wife before the police arrived, he would have killed her too.
Tran's friends set up a GoFundMe account in her honor.
She reportedly studied engineering at the University of Washington, where she was a dedicated and well-loved student. Friends hope to help others in Tran's name.
"Her radiant smile was a source of immense joy, and though the ache of her loss is deep, we believe Angelina would want us to stand strong and keep our smiles bright. Angelina possessed a deep love and compassion for the elderly, and she held a strong desire to support them in any way she could," organizer Hai-Trieu Tran wrote on the GoFundMe page. "In honor of Angelina's memory and her passion for helping elders, we have established a fundraiser. All contributions received will be directed towards the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, reflecting Angelina's spirit and her commitment to making a difference in the lives of elderly individuals. Your support is not only a tribute to her but also a continuation of her legacy of care and compassion."
"This should never happen to anyone. I share your pain. Rest in Peace," one donor wrote.
"I worked with Angelina last Spring in a group project during a difficult quarter and I remember her good-natured attempts to make me feel comfortable and acclimated after joining the group late in the quarter. I praise the nobility and bravery of her spirit for protecting her mother from malevolence," a friend recalled. "My heart goes out to her friends and family and they will be in my thoughts & prayers as they deal with this tragedy. I know cooking can be difficult dealing with this, If I were able I would donate more I would but instead my family would be more than willing to donate cooked meals, please reach out if that's needed."
The GoFundMe page has raised more than $23,000 to date.
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Chau was charged with murder.
The accused killer sits in the King County Correctional Facility on a $5 million bond, the Post reported. Prosecutors reportedly felt he was a danger and flight risk to the community.
Chau returned to the United States in April, according to Fox News, after spending a year in Vietnam. He faces both first-degree murder and attempted murder charges. The court set his arraignment for August 31.
