An Illinois man is facing murder and concealment charges after authorities say he killed his elderly mother — then tried to cover it up by setting the stage for a deadly house explosion.
David Nguyen, 38, was formally charged on Wednesday, Dec. 31, with one count of murder with intent to kill or injure and one count of concealment of a homicidal death, according to a statement from the O’Fallon Police Department.
Police were called to the 1300 block of Bossler Lane in O’Fallon around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 to conduct a welfare check. Inside the home, officers found 72-year-old Terrie Nguyen dead. Investigators quickly determined she had died under suspicious and violent circumstances.
David Nguyen was soon identified as a person of interest. Later that same day, police say he attempted to flee Illinois. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol spotted him driving westbound on Interstate 70 near Concordia, Missouri.
According to police, Nguyen refused to stop and led troopers on a chase before crashing his vehicle near mile marker 51. He was taken into custody following the crash, transported to a local hospital for treatment, and initially charged with felony fleeing before being transferred to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department.
Court documents filed by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office paint a disturbing picture of what allegedly happened inside the home. Prosecutors claim Nguyen suffocated his mother by striking her in the face and placing plastic wrap over her nose and mouth.
Authorities say the violence did not end there. Nguyen is accused of attempting to destroy evidence by turning on unlit gas burners to fill the house with gas and leaving a lit candle inside, allegedly intending to cause an explosion that would conceal the killing.
Nguyen remains in custody in Missouri and is awaiting extradition back to St. Clair County, Illinois.
Terrie Nguyen was reportedly a longtime nail salon worker in nearby Collinsville, where customers and community members have shared tributes honoring her kindness and hard work.
Following the arrest, O’Fallon police thanked Missouri law enforcement for their assistance, saying their swift cooperation helped bring the case to a close.
The investigation remains ongoing.
So much of this is happening . Keep away from your adult children .Maybe now when they visit you , you should get security v
Was david’s father a U.S. military member?????
Just asking….