A shocking case that gripped the Bay Area has reached a tragic conclusion as a Contra Costa County jury convicted 41-year-old Phuc Vo of murdering his wife, Tho Ngoc Ly, and her mother, Que Thi Tran. The swift verdict, delivered after less than a day of deliberation, ensures that Vo faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Authorities say Vo reported Ly and Tran missing in September 2023, claiming they disappeared following a financial dispute. However, by March 2024, investigators uncovered chilling evidence that pointed to a far more sinister reality. Prosecutors revealed that Vo murdered Ly in their San Pablo home before picking up Tran from an Oakland senior care home and killing her as well.
Investigators suspect that Vo initially stored their bodies in a freezer he purchased on Craigslist, where DNA evidence with “limited support” for Ly was later discovered. He then allegedly dumped the remains in the Oakland estuary, where Tran’s body was eventually recovered—while Ly’s remains were never found.
Adding to the disturbing details, Vo fled to Vietnam shortly after the killings, where he allegedly pursued a new relationship. On Facebook, he presented himself as a “fun single dad,” despite the brutal acts he had committed.
At trial, Deputy District Attorney Mary Knox highlighted Vo’s calculated attempts to cover up the crime, including remodeling his home, hiding the victims’ belongings, and moving Ly’s car to make it seem as if she had left willingly. However, as Knox pointed out, Vo made no effort to actually search for his wife and mother-in-law.
Authorities were initially slow to investigate, believing Vo’s account that the women had left together. The case took a turn when a concerned woman called police, suspecting foul play.
Defense attorneys argued that the case was circumstantial, but the jury found the evidence compelling enough to convict Vo on multiple counts, including special circumstances that guarantee a life sentence.
This heartbreaking case serves as a grim reminder of the hidden dangers behind closed doors, leaving a devastated family in its wake.
