Man arrested in Tay Ninh after dismembering girlfriend

Nguyen Thanh Nha murdered his girlfriend in a jealous rage, dismembered her body, and fled to his hometown before confessing to his brother, leading to his arrest.

Tay Ninh Province Police confirmed on 12/9 the arrest of 51-year-old Nha for murder.

When police escorted Nha back to the boarding house in Huu Thanh commune, Duc Hoa district (formerly Long An), to reconstruct the crime scene, neighbors expressed disbelief that he could commit such a "horrific crime." They described him as seemingly gentle during his time living there.

Authorities in Khanh Hung commune, Nha's place of residence, confirmed he had no prior criminal record and had only left the area six months earlier for factory work.

Nguyen Thanh Nha at the time of his arrest. Photo: Nam An

Nguyen Thanh Nha at the time of his arrest. Photo: Nam An

A crime of passion

The investigation revealed that earlier this year, Nha met and became romantically involved with 32-year-old Lan, a divorced mother of two from Hung Dien commune, Tan Hung district (formerly Long An). The couple moved into the boarding house together and worked in the same factory.

Recently, Nha suspected Lan of having another relationship, leading to frequent arguments fueled by jealousy.

Nha confessed that on the evening of 29/8, he saw Lan with another man. Consumed by jealousy, he confronted her, but she refused to talk. That night, the argument continued in their room.

Nha claimed he tried to reconcile, but Lan pushed him away and threatened him with a knife. In a fit of rage, he seized the knife and struck her head, killing her instantly.

Fearing discovery, Nha dismembered Lan's body and placed the parts, along with her clothes, into a sack. In the dead of night, he used her motorbike to transport the sack away from the boarding house.

After traveling over 70 km, he dumped the body in a deserted area in Moc Hoa commune (formerly Long An). He then returned to clean the room and went back to his hometown in Khanh Hung commune, resuming his normal routine.

Security camera footage shows Nha transporting the body on a motorbike.

On 7/9, locals in Moc Hoa commune discovered a large red sack emitting a foul odor. Police confirmed it contained the dismembered remains of a woman and various belongings.

Simultaneously, Lan's family reported her missing. Nha's brother also contacted local police after hearing his confession.

Initially, Nha denied the crime. "After more than a day of interrogation and presentation of evidence, he finally confessed. If we hadn't acted quickly, he likely would have escaped across the nearby Cambodian border," an investigator stated.