The Dong Nai Police Department's recent investigative report has sent shockwaves throughout Vietnam. 39-year-old Bich poisoned several family members over an extended period without raising suspicion.

Bich faces charges of murder and illegal possession, transportation, and use of poison.

Defendant Nguyen Thi Hong Bich. Photo: *Facebook*

Bich, her 40-year-old husband Nguyen Thoai Thanh The, and their parents and siblings ran a food stall in their home on Hung Vuong Street, Vinh Thanh Commune, formerly Nhon Trach District (now Phuoc An Commune). The family tragedy began when The developed a gambling habit and accumulated debt. Bich initially told investigators she purchased cyanide online to commit suicide out of despair. However, she later decided to poison her husband.

On 15/1/2023, knowing her husband regularly took medication for stomach pain, Bich placed cyanide into a capsule and mixed it with his medicine. After taking the pills that afternoon, The experienced numbness and high blood pressure. Bich took him to the hospital. He was subsequently hospitalized several times before dying in October.

Poisoning three nieces and nephews, covering her tracks

After The's death, Bich began a new relationship and incurred further debt. Arguments arose between Bich and her 35-year-old sister, Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang, after Trang repeatedly voiced concerns. Fueled by resentment, Bich plotted to kill Trang’s daughter.

On 1/1/2024, while the family ate hotpot outside, Bich saw Trang’s 6-year-old daughter playing with makeup in the bathroom. Bich poured cyanide into a blue plastic cup (normally used for rinsing) and added bottled water to entice the child to drink it.

After drinking from the cup, the girl collapsed. Bich immediately washed the cup and told Trang that her daughter had fainted in the bedroom. Trang and her husband rushed their daughter to the hospital, but she died the next day.

Investigators determined that Bich also resented her sister-in-law, Than Thi Nhieu, for “interfering in her personal life,” leading to frequent arguments. Bich targeted Nhieu’s children.

Around 3 PM on 25/5/2024, Bich saw Nhieu’s 13-year-old son playing video games on a hammock while burning incense for her recently deceased child. Seeing no one around, she retrieved cyanide from her bedroom, mixed it with bottled water, and gave it to him. When the boy asked what it was, Bich told him it was delicious. After a few sips, he complained about the bitter taste and continued playing. Bich emptied the bottle into the household trash, locked her bedroom door, and went to sleep.

Shortly after, the boy felt unwell and collapsed while calling for his mother. He died despite being rushed to the hospital.

A month later, another argument between Bich and Nhieu erupted over home renovations. Bich decided to poison Nhieu’s older son, 18-year-old Long.

On the afternoon of 22/6/2024, Bich approached Long in his room, asking about his acne. She offered to buy him medicine, claiming a similar treatment had helped her. After Long agreed, Bich purchased three doses of foot pain medication from a nearby pharmacy, specifically requesting capsules. At home, she emptied two capsules, filled them with cyanide, and gave them to Long, who took them after researching the medication online.

Bich washed her hands, hid the remaining medication and cyanide, and took her daughter to her younger sister's house 4 kilometers away. Investigators determined that Bich planned to be away from home when Long became ill to avoid suspicion.

As planned, Long collapsed after ingesting the cyanide. His family rushed him to the hospital, where doctors detected cyanide in his stomach and alerted the family.

Police arrested Bich and seized related evidence.

Plastic bottle containing cyanide hidden by Bich in a cemetery. Photo: *Thai Ha*

Investigators characterized Bich’s actions as dangerous, demonstrating cruelty and disregard for the law. She targeted her own family, resulting in three deaths and one injury.

Regarding the deaths of Bich’s father and child in 2023, investigators found no evidence linking her to their deaths with cyanide.

Recent cyanide poisoning cases highlight the ease of obtaining the chemical, often through online channels, for robbery or settling personal disputes. Dong Nai Police have urged relevant agencies to strengthen the control and monitoring of chemical businesses, including cyanide.

By the end of 2024, Ho Chi Minh City Police had prosecuted 43 defendants in 7 cases, seizing nearly 10 tons of cyanide, over 400 kg of sulfuric and hydrochloric acid, and other materials. In February, Lao Cai Police also arrested 4 individuals involved in the trafficking of almost 5 tons of cyanide-containing chemicals.

Hoang Truong