David Nguyen has been charged in connection with the death of his mother, Terrie Nguyen, according to Illinois authorities.
Terrie Nguyen, 72, was found dead inside her O’Fallon, Illinois, home on Saturday, Dec. 27. The O’Fallon Police Department said her son, David Nguyen, 38, has since been charged with her murder and with concealing her death. Investigators allege David also tried to cause an explosion inside the home to hide evidence of the crime.
Police say David faces one count of murder with intent to kill or injure and one count of concealment of a homicidal death. The charges were filed on Wednesday, Dec. 31, according to a police news release shared on Facebook.
Officers discovered Terrie’s body during a well-being check at her residence in the 1300 block of Bossler Lane around 1:30 p.m. local time on Dec. 27. Authorities determined she died under suspicious circumstances involving violence.
After being identified as a person of interest, David allegedly tried to flee the state. Police said he crashed his vehicle while being pursued by law enforcement.
“Efforts to locate him were immediately initiated,” the O’Fallon Police Department said. “At approximately 4:30 p.m. that same day, the Missouri State Highway Patrol located David traveling westbound on Interstate 70 near Concordia, Missouri. David attempted to flee from troopers but was taken into custody following a crash on I-70 at mile marker 51.”
David was transported to a local hospital for treatment and charged with felony fleeing. Police said he was later released into the custody of the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department.
According to court documents filed by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office, David is accused of suffocating his mother after striking her in the face and placing plastic wrap over her nose and mouth, as reported by the Belleville News-Democrat.
Authorities also allege David tried to conceal the crime by turning on unlit gas burners on the stove to fill the house with gas and leaving a lit candle inside with the intent to cause an explosion.
David remains in custody at the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department while awaiting extradition to St. Clair County, Illinois.
Terrie Nguyen reportedly worked at a nail salon in Collinsville, and customers have shared tributes in her memory on social media, according to the Belleville News-Democrat.
Following David’s arrest, the O’Fallon Police Department thanked assisting agencies for their help. “We would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and all assisting Missouri agencies for their swift and professional cooperation, which enabled an efficient resolution to this investigation,” police said.
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