A man fatally stabbed his wife while their baby was sleeping, WA Police say

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A 52-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in the Oct. 6, 2022, shooting death of his wife in Kent County, Washington, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors in Washington say a man is accused of hacking his wife to death with scissors while their 10-year-old child was asleep at home.

Hong Tian Pham, 52, has been charged with second-degree murder in the Oct. 6 killing of Tuen Hoang in Kent County, according to charging documents.

Pham called his brother and told him he was going to kill his wife, according to a police probable cause statement.

His brother called authorities and asked them to check Pham’s home, but no one answered, police said.

About 30 minutes later, police arrived at the home again for a second welfare check reported by Pham’s brother-in-law, authorities said.

Pham left the home after the police were called and he was arrested.

Their 10-year-old daughter was also removed from the home unharmed, police said.

Pham Haang’s wife was found dead inside the home with stab marks on her neck, police said. Police said bloodied scissors were found near her body.

An autopsy ruled her death a homicide, police said.

His son told authorities that Pham suspected his wife was cheating, although he had no proof, police said.

Pham told police, “I know what I did was wrong,” according to the probable cause statement.

Pham’s bail was set at $2 million. His next court hearing is on October 20.

Kent is about 20 miles south of Seattle.

If you have experienced domestic violence and need someone to talk to, call the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788.

Helena Wegner is McClatchy’s real-time national reporter covering Washington state and the western region. She graduated from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication with a degree in journalism. She is in Phoenix.