Arrest of 'stepfather' who abused 5-year-old boy to death

On March 28, the Criminal Police Department of An Giang Province Police is temporarily detaining Le Van Truong (born in 1991, residing in Long Thanh A Hamlet, Long Thanh Ward, Tan Chau Town, An Giang Province) for murder. Truong is identified as the suspect in the torture that led to the death of a 5-year-old child, the stepchild of his lover.

Previously, on March 27, the Investigation Police Agency of An Giang Province Police received a report from Long Thanh Ward Police (Tan Chau Town) about the case of K. (born in 2020) who died unexpectedly but was buried by his family. Long Thanh Ward Police also received a request to exhume the body of K.'s biological father to clarify the death of his child because he suspected that his child's death had many twists and turns, suspecting that he was murdered by the mother's lover.

Considering the complicated and extremely serious nature of the case, Colonel Lam Phuoc Nguyen, Director of An Giang Provincial Police and Colonel Bui Tan An, Deputy Director and Head of the Provincial Police Investigation Agency, directed the Criminal Police Department to coordinate with the Criminal Techniques Department and relevant units to conduct an exhumation, quickly investigate, verify and clarify, in order to promptly reassure public opinion.

The autopsy results concluded that the cause of K.'s death was "acute hemorrhagic shock due to ruptured liver and spleen".

Through investigation, the police suspected that Le Van Truong (who lived as husband and wife with K.'s mother) was the direct cause of K.'s death, so they invited Truong and Nguyen Thi Thuy Nguyen (K.'s biological mother) to the headquarters for questioning.

Initially, Truong and Nguyen both denied beating K. to death. However, after many hours of persistent struggle and investigation, Truong and Nguyen admitted to their crimes.

Initial investigation results determined: Nguyen (born in 1994, residing in Long Hung ward, Tan Chau town, An Giang province) lived as husband and wife with TVK (born in 1985, residing in Ca Mau province), and had two children together, K. (born in 2020) and A. (born in 2022). Around mid-2024, Nguyen and TVK had conflicts in their relationship, so TVK left for Binh Duong to work as a hired worker.

During this time, Nguyen got to know and lived with Truong as husband and wife. After renting a room in Binh Duong province, on the eve of Lunar New Year 2025, Truong brought Nguyen and his two children K. and A. back to live with Truong's family in Tan Chau town, An Giang province.

Recently, Truong was angry that K. did not listen to him and often demanded many things, so he beat K. many times. At about 4:00 p.m. on March 23, when Truong came home from work, K. asked to be taken to find her mother, so Truong angrily dragged K. into Truong's bedroom and used his hands to hit K. many times in the stomach and body. K.'s mother discovered and intervened.

A few days later, K. had a fever but the family did not take him to the hospital, thinking that K. had a common fever. On the morning of March 26, seeing that K. was tired, Truong still drove K. to the nursery. On the way, K. suddenly fainted so Truong took him to Tan Chau Regional General Hospital for emergency treatment, about 20 minutes later K. died.

Afterwards, Nguyen and Truong took K. to Nguyen's biological mother's house in Long Hung ward, Tan Chau town, to embalm her, and then buried her that same afternoon. In addition, Nguyen also confessed to having beaten K. many times. Only when K. was in pain did Nguyen stop.

The Criminal Police Department of An Giang Provincial Police continues to investigate and clarify the case.