94-year-old North Bay man suffocated by son-in-law, authorities say: 'Cold malice murder'
The death was determined to be from natural causes until a family member found security camera footage which proved otherwise.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- We're learning new details about the shocking murder of a 94-year-old Santa Rosa man after sheriff's deputies arrested the victim's own son-in-law for the killing.
At first, the elderly man's death was determined to be from natural causes until a family member found security camera footage which proved otherwise.
"This is a straight up, cold malice murder," said Sergeant Juan Valencia from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department.
Valencia is revealing new details about the murder of Sy Van Nguyen, a 94-year-old man who was being cared for by relatives at a hilltop vineyard home on River Road.
"The room where the elderly victim was at had surveillance cameras, the suspect knew the cameras were there," Valencia said.
Investigators say initially the man's death on August 11 appeared to be from natural causes until the victim's son provided detectives with new evidence.
"What happened was the son felt something didn't feel right, so he started reviewing the video. As he's reviewing it, he saw the suspect basically grab a plastic bag and a pillow, put it over the victim's face suffocating him on camera," Valencia added.
RELATED: North Bay man arrested in killing of father-in-law after cause of death revised: authorities
Valencia says that suspect caught on camera was the victim's 71-year-old son-in-law. He was arrested on murder charges.
But, what is the possible motive?
"Detectives did speak with the suspect and he basically said he was tired of providing for his father-in-law who was 94 years old," said Valencia.
"There's got to be alternatives than coming to this," said neighbor Rod Burglund.
Burglund, who knows the suspect as Ken, is troubled by the news.
"You know most of the people in the neighborhood, Ken was always doing his own thing, a walking acquaintance. I made wine from his grapes one year. To me he seemed like an above board kind of guy," Burglund said.
The suspect is in the Sonoma County Jail awaiting his first court appearance this week.
