Posted on 12/22/2005 5:54:19 AM PST by absolootezer0
DELHI TWP. — The homicide victim found in Delhi Township has been identified as Phuong Thanh Tran, Ingham County Sheriff Gene Wriggelsworth said at a press conference Dec. 13.
The cause of death is still undetermined. Detective Lieutenant Jeff Joy said the Ingham County Medical Examiner’s office and the Michigan State Police Crime lab are collaborating on forensic testing that may help to answer that question.
“In any autopsy they do, they do other forensic testing, such as to see if there might be any alcohol in their system, any drugs in their system, anything that might suggest how they died,” Joy said. “That takes weeks and weeks.”
Wriggelsworth said there are suspects but there have not been any arrests.
“We have zeroed in on a few people and we’re diligently investigating them,” Wriggelsworth said.
Wriggelsworth said the sheriff ’s department does not know how long Tran’s body had been in the vehicle and has not located his head.
He would not comment on whether the department had found any weapons or whether there were other visible wounds on the body.
“I know I’m being evasive on some of this stuff, but we’ve got to hold some things close to the vest,” Wriggelsworth said. “This is an ongoing investigation. It could cripple us if we start giving out details.”
Wriggelsworth emphasized that the department does not believe the death was random or gang-related. He said they believe it was a targeted killing.
“The public needs to know we believe they’re safe,” Wriggelsworth said. “The people in the neighborhood can rest easy.”
He would not comment on how those options were ruled out or what other motives are being considered and investigated.
“Obviously, someone didn’t like him,” Wriggelsworth said. “And we’ve got to find out why.”
Ingham County sheriff ’s deputies found Tran’s body Dec. 7 when they went to 2485 Houghton Hollow Dr. in response to a check welfare complaint from Tran’s employer, Toyota Motor Corporation. The body had been decapitated.
According to Wriggelsworth, Toyota called in the complaint because Tran did not come to work or call in for two days.
“Apparently he was a very reliable employee,” Wr i g g e l s w o r t h s a i d . “That was unusual for him not to come or even call, so they were concerned.”
Wriggelsworth said the car Tran’s body was found in was his company car and the house where the car was parked was his parents’ home. Tran lived there on the weekends. Tran, 27, was a graduate of Lansing Everett High School and held a bachelor of arts and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, specializing in Bio-Fuels, from Michigan State University, according to a Dec. 13 press release.
He worked in the Material Engineering Department at Toyota. Wriggelsworth said he believed Tran was born in Vietnam and his family moved to the United States when he was four or five. He said Tran was not married and had no children. He also said he was not aware of any criminal background.
Wriggelsworth said Tran’s parents were in Vietnam when the body was found but are now home. He said they were helpful in identifying Tran’s clothing, which confirmed his identity.
“Clearly the parents are upset, they’ve lost a very important member of their family,” Wriggelsworth said. “But they are cooperating.”
the guy that was decapitated was a friend of mine from high school, but i hadn't talked to him since we graduated. my prayers for his family that they be comforted, and that they find who did this.
Decapitated?
ROP?
Sorry to hear it. Keep us posted about this case, it's a strange one. Thanks.
not necessesarily, MS13 is just as likely.
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