On 22/5, the Da Nang City Police's Criminal Investigation Department announced the emergency arrest of Nguyen Thi Kim Sau, 41, residing in An Hai ward, to investigate her involvement in a murder.

Nguyen Thi Kim Sau after her arrest. *Thanh Huynh*

This development follows the earlier charging and detention of Nguyen Thai Bao, 19, the victim's biological son. The other son, Nguyen Quoc Huy, 14, will be sent to a reform school as he was not of criminal responsibility age at the time of the offense.

According to the investigation, Sau married Nguyen Chien Thang, 42, in 2025. Thang had two sons from a previous relationship: Bao and Huy. During their marriage, Sau frequently told Bao and Huy that Thang had another child and planned to leave all his assets to that child. She incited the brothers to kill their father, promising to manage the inheritance and share it with them after Bao's release from prison.

Sau then planned the murder with Bao and Huy. The scheme involved Bao and Huy playing video games on the evening of 23/2. Sau would then tell Thang to find them, creating a confrontation that would lead to Thang's death. Both sons agreed to the plan.

Around 10 p.m. on 23/2, Bao and Thang had an altercation at their home on Nguyen Thien Ke street in An Hai ward. Neighbors intervened, and Bao left. At 2 a.m. on 24/2, Bao returned and attempted to strangle his sleeping father with a cloth string. Thang resisted and shouted for help, prompting Bao to stop and flee to a hotel on Nguyen Cong Tru street, also in An Hai ward.

At 4 a.m. the same day, Sau instructed Huy to message Bao, urging him to return and complete the plan.

Sau prepared a hammer on the stairs and opened a window, allowing Bao to sneak back into the house. Bao then attacked Thang, hitting him repeatedly in the head with the hammer, with Sau observing and encouraging him. When Thang collapsed, Sau further incited Huy to use an iron to strike his father's head until he lost consciousness and died.

After the murder, Sau cleaned the crime scene, instructed Bao to return to the hotel, and told Huy to change his blood-stained clothes to hide their involvement.

During the murder investigation, police noticed inconsistencies between Bao's statements and the forensic evidence. Detectives also observed Sau's lack of grief following her husband's death; she continued to run her shop, socialize, and exhibited unusual financial activities. Thang's younger son, Huy, also left home to play games and showed signs of psychological distress.

On 20/5, authorities placed Sau and Huy under emergency detention. Confronted with police evidence, both suspects admitted to the full extent of their crimes.

Sau confessed that her promise to care for Bao during his imprisonment and hand over the assets was intended to make the brothers take full responsibility for the crime, thereby concealing her own role.

The investigation agency is completing the case file for legal processing.

Ngoc Truong