27-8-2023 (SEATTLE) In a horrifying incident, a 21-year-old University of Washington engineering student, Angelina Tran, lost her life while bravely trying to protect her mother during a domestic dispute. Angelina was brutally stabbed a shocking 107 times in her family home in Seattle. The assailant has been identified as her stepfather, Nghiep Kein Chau, aged 54, who is now facing charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.
The terrifying attack unfolded in the Seattle residence Angelina shared with her mother, Linh Ngoc Tran, aged 50, and her stepfather, Chau. The horrific incident was captured on the home’s surveillance camera, which provided critical evidence for the prosecution.
Prosecutors have disclosed that the confrontation began when Chau physically assaulted Linh Ngoc Tran during a heated argument in their kitchen. Chau allegedly punched his wife repeatedly in the face and head. Angelina, who had been asleep, rushed to intervene and protect her mother.
In an attempt to ensure her mother’s safety, Angelina held Chau back, allowing her mother to escape and seek refuge downstairs. However, Chau turned his violence towards Angelina, punching her before forcibly wrestling her to the floor. Shockingly, Chau then grabbed a large knife and proceeded to stab Angelina repeatedly in the chest.
Court documents reveal that after the initial attack, Chau changed his clothes due to the significant amount of blood. He then retrieved a meat cleaver and continued his horrifying assault on the defenceless young woman.
Linh Ngoc Tran reportedly fled to a room, where she called 911 for help. Police arrived at the scene, finding Chau still armed with a large, bloody kitchen-style knife. He was immediately taken into custody as he descended the stairs inside the house.
Chau allegedly admitted his intention to kill Linh Ngoc Tran before the arrival of the police. According to reports, he told authorities that his motivation stemmed from the belief that his wife was planning to divorce him and take his money.
The criminal complaint against Chau states, “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.”
Chau and Linh Ngoc Tran had been in a relationship for nearly two decades, meaning that Angelina had known him for most of her life. Chau is currently being held at the King County Correctional Facility on a $5 million bond.
A GoFundMe page created in memory of Angelina has already surpassed its $15,000 goal by a significant margin. The funds raised will be directed towards the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging in honour of Angelina’s commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of elderly individuals.
The page describes Angelina as “an incredible daughter, a cherished friend, and above all, a perfect girlfriend” and expresses the profound pain her absence has caused.
