Man charged with killing his 78-year-old father and burying the body in the backyard

Philip Nguyen, age 19 of Falls Church, was arrested for second-degree murder on Sept. 8 for killing his father, Truman Nguyen, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis announced at the scene of the crime in the 3300 block of Nevius Street in the Bailey’s Crossroads area. 

Truman Nguyen, age 78, was last seen on Sunday and was reported missing by a family member on Monday. Detectives found his body buried in the backyard of his home on Wednesday afternoon. 

“This is the fifth time in 2021 where a father, or a mother, or a sister has been murdered by a son or a brother,” Davis said. “This is a disturbing trend indeed.” 

This case started as a missing person investigation, then quickly turned into a homicide investigation, as the police received information from multiple sources about a body buried in the backyard and found the victim in the national database of missing persons, Davis said. “This address is known to the Fairfax County Police Department.” 

“Our worst fears were confirmed when we discovered the body,” said Major Ed O’Carroll, chief of the Major Crimes Bureau. “I’m heartbroken over the outcome of this case.” 

Philip Nguyen is being held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center on no bond. He is a former resident of the house where his father lived. 

Police Chief Kevin Davis speaks to the media at the scene of the crime on Nevius Streets. Major Crimes Bureau Chief Ed O’Carroll is on the right. [FCPD]

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. O’Carroll declined to provide specifics on a motive or how the murder happened. The crime scene extends to the inside of the house, and detectives are expected to be on site for two or three more days. 

The Police Department, in partnership with the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney, agreed to charge Phillip Nguyen with second-degree murder, but that could be elevated to first-degree murder and other charges could be added later, O’Carroll said.

There have been 18 murders so far in Fairfax County in 2021, Davis noted, compared to six at this time in 2020. 

“It’s hard to talk about numbers without appearing insensitive, because behind every number is a human being,” he said.

Davis said it’s frustrating to see the increase in homicides because “we’re significantly down in overall crime” compared to last year. 

“Another source of frustration is that there is no string of commonality running through the increase in murders beyond the fact that we have sons who are in some type of dispute with a parent, and in one occasion with a sister, and that dispute results in a murder,” he said.

“There are all types of anxiety associated with the pandemic,” Davis said. “The family dynamic has been turned upside down in America in the last 18 months. To what degree that played a role here today I don’t know.” 

Davis urged people to call the police when there’s fear of violence inside a home. “Don’t assume a verbal altercation won’t turn violent.”