Overview

• Deputies were initially told there were no signs of trauma when Sy Van Nguyen, 94, was found unresponsive on August 11 in Santa Rosa.
• Sgt. Juan Valencia said a room camera recorded Khanh Trong Tran placing a plastic bag and a pillow over Nguyen’s face.
• Nguyen’s son reviewed the footage after sensing something was wrong and turned it over to investigators, who reclassified the death as an intentional killing.
• Detectives obtained a search warrant, located Tran in a car about seven miles away, and booked the 71-year-old into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of murder.
• Valencia said Tran told detectives he was tired of providing for his father-in-law, and he is awaiting his first court appearance this week.