PRINCE RUPERT, B.C., CANADA - In 2023, a Canadian family was found dead in the same bed. Authorities believe that the husband, Christopher Duong, killed his wife, Janet Nguyen, and their two children before dying by suicide.
After further investigation, the wife is now believed to have been a "willing participant" in the apparent murder-suicide. Duong and his wife, Nguyen, were found dead alongside their two sons on June 13, 2023, according to CBC and PEOPLE.
A coroner's report found that the two boys died of asphyxia and police believe Duong killed them both. He is believed to have used an electrical cord to strangle Nguyen; however, there was no visible sign of a struggle between the two. The family members were all found dead in the same bed and the boys each had teddy bears at their feet.
"It was observed that neither of the children had obvious signs of injury, but their lips were blue and their skin was pale," Blumberg testified.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal Matthew Blumberg testified that Nguyen was believed to have been a "willing participant." The CBC further reported that Duong was previously known to law enforcement, believed to have been connected to drug trafficking in the area.
A year before his death, Duong suffered a traumatic brain injury. Days before he was found dead, Duong believed a "hit" had been put on him and that his family was potentially going to be targeted, according to authorities. Investigators also found that Duong and Nguyen had recorded a "last will and testament," Blumberg said.
"The children were drugged prior to being murdered, based on the cold medication located on scene, being consistent with their toxicology results," Blumberg testified. "Janet Nguyen was strangled with an electrical cord to the point it was extremely tight; she could not have done that to herself."
It was previously stated in court that in the early morning hours of June 10, 2023, Prince Rupert RCMP found a Mercedes SUV abandoned, packed with suitcases and a large amount of cash. Its owners, Nguyen and Duong, later returned to the scene, telling police they were being followed and a hit had been ordered against them.
Duong was taken into custody under the Mental Health Act, while Nguyen and the couple's children were returned to the family home. The Ministry of Children and Family Development was contacted by police after Duong was apprehended and a social worker was expected to make contact with the family during a five-day window.
Social worker Scott Bertram testified on Wednesday that the response time frame could be overridden, and that had he known Duong was to be released from the hospital a few hours later, he would have upgraded it to 24 hours. A social worker attempted to make contact with Nguyen on June 13, but was unsuccessful and the local office was notified of the deaths the following day.
After further investigation, the wife is now believed to have been a "willing participant" in the apparent murder-suicide. Duong and his wife, Nguyen, were found dead alongside their two sons on June 13, 2023, according to CBC and PEOPLE.
A coroner's report found that the two boys died of asphyxia and police believe Duong killed them both. He is believed to have used an electrical cord to strangle Nguyen; however, there was no visible sign of a struggle between the two. The family members were all found dead in the same bed and the boys each had teddy bears at their feet.
"It was observed that neither of the children had obvious signs of injury, but their lips were blue and their skin was pale," Blumberg testified.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Corporal Matthew Blumberg testified that Nguyen was believed to have been a "willing participant." The CBC further reported that Duong was previously known to law enforcement, believed to have been connected to drug trafficking in the area.
A year before his death, Duong suffered a traumatic brain injury. Days before he was found dead, Duong believed a "hit" had been put on him and that his family was potentially going to be targeted, according to authorities. Investigators also found that Duong and Nguyen had recorded a "last will and testament," Blumberg said.
"The children were drugged prior to being murdered, based on the cold medication located on scene, being consistent with their toxicology results," Blumberg testified. "Janet Nguyen was strangled with an electrical cord to the point it was extremely tight; she could not have done that to herself."
It was previously stated in court that in the early morning hours of June 10, 2023, Prince Rupert RCMP found a Mercedes SUV abandoned, packed with suitcases and a large amount of cash. Its owners, Nguyen and Duong, later returned to the scene, telling police they were being followed and a hit had been ordered against them.
Duong was taken into custody under the Mental Health Act, while Nguyen and the couple's children were returned to the family home. The Ministry of Children and Family Development was contacted by police after Duong was apprehended and a social worker was expected to make contact with the family during a five-day window.
Social worker Scott Bertram testified on Wednesday that the response time frame could be overridden, and that had he known Duong was to be released from the hospital a few hours later, he would have upgraded it to 24 hours. A social worker attempted to make contact with Nguyen on June 13, but was unsuccessful and the local office was notified of the deaths the following day.
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