Angelina Tran was a 21-year-old University of Washington engineering student who was fatally stabbed by her stepfather at her family’s Beacon Hill home in Seattle on August 7, 2023, after she intervened to stop him from beating her mother. Her stepfather, Nghiep Kein Chau, was charged with first-degree murder in her death and first-degree attempted murder in the attack on his wife, Linh Tran, who survived.1Seattle Times. Stepdad Accused of Fatally Stabbing UW Student Who Was Protecting Mom
What Happened the Morning of the Attack
Shortly before 5 a.m. on August 7, 2023, Chau began punching Linh Tran in the face after an argument about money at the family’s home on the 5300 block of 31st Avenue South.2KATU. Beacon Hill Stabbing: Stepfather Charged in Stepdaughter’s Death He later told police he believed his wife would divorce him and take his money, while acknowledging she had never actually said that.3KOMO News. Beacon Hill Stabbing: Stepfather Charged in Stepdaughter’s Death He punched Linh more than a dozen times before she cried out.
Angelina heard her mother and came into the living room, physically blocking Chau from continuing the assault.4KATV. Man Accused of Stabbing Stepdaughter More Than 100 Times Her intervention gave Linh time to reach a bedroom and call 911. Chau then dragged Angelina across the room and began stabbing her in the chest and abdomen. According to charging documents, he paused the attack multiple times, once to change his blood-soaked clothing and again to retrieve a different knife, including a meat cleaver, before resuming.5Fox News. Chau Charging Documents The Seattle Police Department determined Angelina had been stabbed at least 107 times.6Fox 11. Man Accused of Stabbing Stepdaughter More Than 100 Times Court documents said he continued stabbing her after she was dead.
Chau then went looking for Linh, still armed, and was still searching for her when police arrived. He told officers he had intended to kill her if he found her before they did.1Seattle Times. Stepdad Accused of Fatally Stabbing UW Student Who Was Protecting Mom
Who Angelina Tran Was
Angelina Tran had one year left in her engineering studies at the University of Washington and lived with her family in Beacon Hill.7NextShark. Angelina Tran Stabbing Murder She volunteered at the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging, working with seniors, and those who knew her described a real passion for helping elderly people.8Northwest Asian Weekly. UW Student Tran Killed While Defending Mother After her death, loved ones organized a memorial fundraiser in her honor to benefit the same organization.
The Stepfather and the Charges
Chau, 54 at the time of the killing, had been in a relationship with Linh Tran for 19 years, meaning he had known Angelina for most of her life.8Northwest Asian Weekly. UW Student Tran Killed While Defending Mother Court records indicated he had spent the previous year in Vietnam and returned to King County in April 2023, about four months before the attack.3KOMO News. Beacon Hill Stabbing: Stepfather Charged in Stepdaughter’s Death Prosecutors said his only prior criminal history was a 2006 fishing violation, with no documented record of domestic violence.9NBC 15. Man Accused of Stabbing Stepdaughter More Than 100 Times
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged him with first-degree murder for the premeditated killing of Angelina Thanh Tran and first-degree attempted murder for the premeditated attempt to kill Linh N. Tran. Both counts carried domestic violence classifications and deadly weapon enhancements for the use of a knife. The court set bail at $5 million and issued a domestic violence no-contact order protecting Linh Tran.5Fox News. Chau Charging Documents Chau was scheduled for arraignment on August 31, 2023.2KATU. Beacon Hill Stabbing: Stepfather Charged in Stepdaughter’s Death