North Bay man arrested in killing of father-in-law after cause of death revised: authorities

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KGO) -- In the North Bay, a Sonoma County man is under arrest, charged with the killing of his 94-year-old father-in-law.

The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department says the arrest happened days after the father-in-law appeared to have died from natural causes, but newly discovered evidence proved otherwise.

"That's awful. Can see his house up there," said Lynn Burglund, owner of Joseph Swan Vineyards.

Burglund couldn't believe her 71-year-old neighbor was arrested for the murder of his 94-year-old father-in-law.

"He seemed like a very nice guy, so it's shocking he did that," Burglund said.

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The Sonoma County Sheriff's Department says on Aug. 11, the suspect reported that his 94-year-old father-in-law, Sy Van Nguyen was unresponsive at the River Road home the family shares. He was later pronounced dead from natural causes. No signs of trauma or foul play.

But that would later change.

The department said in a statement, "On Friday, Aug. 15 patrol deputies received evidence indicating the death was not natural, but instead an intentional killing."

The sheriff's department is not disclosing what the new evidence is.

Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for the son-in law and served a search warrant at the River Road property where both men lived in separate residences, but the son-in-law was gone, the Sheriff's Office said.

Detectives and patrol deputies searched extensively for the son-in-law and found him about 4:15 a.m. Saturday inside a vehicle in the 1700 block of Marlow Road.

CSI detectives arrested the victim's son in law for murder.

"He was an elderly gentleman, yes," said Don Pelletti.

Neighbor Don Pelletti met the 94-year-old victim before, walking on Trenton Road with his daughter.

As for the suspect...

"He's been a different neighbor than most of them around here. Keeps to himself, more or less, doesn't want anyone on his property," Peletti said.

Another neighbor who didn't go on camera, said the suspect was into hiking.

"He seemed nice enough, a little guy. When we talked about doing hiking things, he was exuberant about it," this neighbor said.

Sheriff's investigators say the suspect remains in the Sonoma County Jail without bail.

Bay City News contributed to this report.