Gambling Addict Charged in Murder of Poker Player

Gambling Addict Charged in Murder of Poker Player

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It has been 3 months since Ethan Nguyen was stabbed to death in his Plano, Texas home. Up until this point there had been no news stories on this death as the police were keeping it under tight wraps as they investigated. They have now charged fellow poker player and close friend Peter Phuc Hong Tran in the murder.

Both Ethan Nguyen and Peter Tran were 2/5 regulars at local casinos. They were very close and even travelled/stayed together on trips to other casinos. My understanding is that they were planning to travel to Riverwind Casino the following weekend due to a monthly splash pot promotion going on up there.

From my perspective, Ethan was a professional poker player (semi-pro who was also a hair stylist) and Peter was an aspiring pro who was being mentored by Ethan (I was under the assumption that Peter did not have another job, but that could be incorrect). Ethan was pretty flamboyant with his money and was known to carry $10k-15k on his person. Apparently Peter had borrowed money from many players including Ethan. Based on the news article, it appears the police believe that Peter killed Ethan for money to fuel his gambling addiction. Neither the murder weapon nor the $10k stolen has been found.

I hope this story serves as a reminder to all about the risks that even today still exist in this business. Caution should be heeded even with those you trust.

Dallas Morning News Article: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/commu...n-stabbing.ece

 

 

 

 

 

Keller man charged with capital murder in stabbing of Plano man

 

By VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH

VALERIE WIGGLESWORTH The Dallas Morning News

Staff Writer

vwigglesworth@dallasnews.com

Published: 30 May 2012 11:13 PM

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A Keller man with a gambling addiction has been charged with capital murder in the February death of a Plano man.

Peter Phuc Hong Tran, 27, is accused of killing Ethan Nguyen, 33, who was found stabbed to death in the home he shares with his mother in the 2400 block of Frosted Green Lane near Custer and McDermott roads in Plano. Nguyen had about $10,000 in cash the day he was killed that police have not found.

Tran was arrested in Sedgwick County, Kan., on May 9 and transferred to the Collin County jail on Friday. His bail is set at $1 million.

According to Plano police, Nguyen’s mother arrived home just after 8 p.m. Feb. 19 and found her son lying in the living room. She also found blood in the kitchen, and there was a white drawer liner and cardboard knife sheath lying on the kitchen floor. There were no signs of forced entry or ransacking.

Nguyen died from multiple stab wounds, according to the autopsy. The knife used in the killing has not been found.

According to the probable cause affidavit, surveillance camera video shows Tran and Nguyen had been shopping together on Feb. 19 in Frisco.

Tran told detectives the pair returned to Nguyen’s home in Nguyen’s car after shopping and that Tran left in his own car that afternoon. During questioning, Tran said that he threw out the white shoes and jeans he had been wearing in the surveillance photo.

He said one of his white shoes had gotten damaged, and the seat of his jeans ripped when he bent over to check on the shoes.

A court order for Nguyen’s iPhone records later revealed an application that updated the phone’s location through cell phone towers. The movement of the phone matched the route that Tran told police he took after leaving Nguyen’s house.

According to the affidavit, Tran told police that he had a gambling addiction and had borrowed thousands of dollars from his sister’s bank account that was supposed to pay for her college expenses. He said he had also borrowed money in the past from his relatives and from Nguyen for gambling. Tran told police that Nguyen had about $10,000 with him when they were shopping.

The warrant for Tran’s arrest was signed May 3.

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/plano/headlines/20120530-keller-man-charged-with-capital-murder-in-stabbing.ece