Earl Conrad Bramblett (March 20, 1942 April 9, 2003) was an American mass murderer, convicted for the killing of four members of the Hodges family in August 1994 in Vinton, Virginia. Fairfax County police believe Hong Chen fatally shot Zhou, his wife, and James Chen, his son. Vickie and Ed had met when she was an exotic dancer. "He can't get out until he's 60," Horan said. The boysdescribed as kind, gentle and joyfulloved gardening, and Garden Club was the last activity they participated in at school, The Altamont Enterprise reported. 'An entire family was wiped out': Henry County Sheriff's Office to re Investigators have considered links to Chinese American organized crime; there is evidence the Chens may have been involved in illegal gambling and/or the human trafficking of undocumented immigrants from China. We're taking a break from Beyond Belief for a few weeks (but staying in the 90s) to cover a true crime case that is local to MM's neck of the woods and we have a coincidental connection to: the Chen Family murders in Great Falls, Virginia in August 1995. "This is truly peculiar.". The child, who was living with her father, is being cared for by friends, Horan said. Rainbow Girl Murders Book Stirs Modern Controversy - West Virginia Bramblett murdered each family member in their residence before setting it on fire, and in 1997 was sentenced to death for the murders. The Chen Family Murders of Upstate New York Remain Shrouded in Mystery I've never murdered anybody. Police: McLean Man Shot, Killed Wife, Son Before Killing Self The woman who alerted authorities three years ago to a triple murder in Great Falls, committed by her ex-boyfriend Edward Y. Chen, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Alexandria to. Most Infamous Family Murders in History - Us Weekly Reporter covering criminal justice locally and nationally. Two sons, Anthony and Eddy, were born in 2004 and 2007 respectively. Naturally, the police could not take Vickie for her word, as there was nothing to suggest that a murder had even occurred in the first place. Months after his arrest in January, the man accused of shooting and killing an elderly Pokmon Go player has been indicted by a grand jury on a first-degree murder charge on . [2], Earl Bramblett, from Spartanburg, South Carolina, was a close friend of the Hodges family. [11] All were involved in running a family restaurant;[6] investigators there believe the three were killed by professional assassins dispatched from New York City. Guilderland Police Chief Dan McNally told A&E True Crime his department appreciates any media exposure regarding the case, in hopes that it might prompt someone to come forward with information. Fairfax County Police are searching for their bodies, Horan said. Joseph Paul Franklin, a white supremacist and serial killer, confessed to the murders. Chen family killings Cheshire home invasion murders Chisolm Massacre Clutter family murders Darnell Collins Kevin Cooper (prisoner) 2011 Copley Township shooting Corbly Family massacre Manuel Martnez Coronado Covina massacre Cowden family murders Lugano District shootings D Dardeen family homicides Dawson murder case 2011 murder of the Ding family Although the police were reluctant to believe Vickie initially, she stuck to her story and even claimed to have more witnesses. Chen's brother told reporters there that his brother's body had been found on the first floor of the small bungalow, while the other members of the family were found upstairs, covered by a blanket. Impromptu memorials of flowers, candles and other mementoes were started not only at the house but the boys' elementary school. But Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Robert F. Horan still had three key witnesses: Chen's ex-wife, Mandy Chen, who had seen the bodies; Chen's friend Michael Reese, who helped him dispose of the bodies; and Henry, whom Chen had told about the killings and who made a tape-recorded phone call to Chen for the police shortly before Chen's arrest. "And one night I really just lost my nerve, lost my mind and I did it," Chen told Fairfax detectives. The flooring had been replaced in the master bedroom, but they asked if the flooring underneath had been replaced, it hadnt. Earl Conrad Bramblett (March 20, 1942 - April 9, 2003) was an American mass murderer, convicted for the killing of four members of the Hodges family in August 1994 in Vinton, Virginia.Bramblett murdered each family member in their residence before setting it on fire, and in 1997 was sentenced to death for the murders.. Bramblett was executed by electric chair on April 9, 2003. No homes or businesses in the immediate vicinity of the Chens had security cameras that might have provided footage to review. His final words were, "I didn't murder the Hodges family. Killer's Ex-Girlfriend Pleads Guilty - The Washington Post Edward Y. Chen admitted in a Fairfax County courtroom yesterday that he shot his parents and older brother to death inside their Great Falls home in 1995, then left their bodies inside the house for nearly four years. Ed offered Michael $100,000 and a new car. The elder Chen was thought to be in "the import-export business" or a consultant, said Horan. When authorities arrived on the scene, they found 39-year-old Jin Feng Chen dead on the first floor of his home. Ed admitted to everything. 2 Young Children Left Alone for Days at Scene of Triple Murder - NBC4 Ed Chen murdered his mother, father, and brother in their home and went undiscovered until . [5], Police were slow to release information, and much of what was reported in the early days of the case came from relatives of the Chens who talked to the Chinese media at a news conference in New York City's Chinatown. As part of his plea agreement, he was sentenced to 36 years in prison in December 2002. IN THE MEANTIME, another innocent family moved into the house and fell in love with it. 5 charged in Virginia triple murder of family; two victims from Utah Despite more than 600 leads in the case, investigators couldnt zero in on any suspects. Chen family killings - Wikipedia At Eds trial, his attorney, Peter Greenspun, said the confession should be thrown out because it was coerced. The police believed that Ed Chen had killed his family, but they needed proof. If you missed the program, you can watch it online. [Watch episodes of Cold Case Files in the A&E App.]. The Chen's were very successful business people, they lived in a nice mansion in a very wealthy neighborhood. Taiwan natives Wu-Hung and Weh-Mei Chen kept frequenting their Great Falls residence in Fairfax, Virginia, to visit their two sons, Raymond and Edward. Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Jonathan C. Thacher ruled last month that Chen's confession was inadmissible because he had told detectives "I don't want to talk about it" before relating details of the crime. She immediately asked her then-partner to explain, and he stated that he had bought a rifle and murdered his brother and parents. A triple homicide goes undetected for years, until a tip changes everything. [5], Bramblett's case was featured on the popular CourtTV crime show Forensic Files - Season 8, Episode 16: "Private Thoughts"[6] and Discovery Channel's The New Detectives - Season 4, Episode 4: "Dead Wrong".[7]. Police believe the murders took place sometime between 3:30 and 6:30 a.m. Chen was found downstairs, while his wife and two children were found upstairs, covered with blankets, the Albany Times Union reported. To listen please click below or find us wherever you listen to podcasts. The Chens were reasonably well-off and managed to send their children to prestigious schools in Fairfax, along with owning five properties in the US. [3], From the beginning there were allegations that the Chens had been involved in illegal business activities in addition to, or even instead of, the restaurant, such as human trafficking, money laundering, or illegal gambling. The coworker was greeted by the gruesome scene of four brutal murders that remain unsolved to this day. Vickie said she had information about her exs dead family that were killed in August of 1995. At the time of his arrest he was living in an apartment he rented at Worldgate in Herndon. Lets dive into the details surrounding the incident, shall we? Language and cultural barriers also slowed down the investigation. Three people found dead inside a home in McLean, Virginia, on Friday died in a double murder-suicide, police said. Anthony and Eddy Chen attended Guilderland Elementary School, where they were both described as happy and thoughtful students. "I want to apologize to my family and friends," Chen said in court, speaking publicly for the first time, "especially my daughter, for what I put them through. A deputy's body cam video . However, there was little other evidence suggesting who killed the family or why. My brother and my parents." Police responded and discovered the bodies inside. 60 is still pretty young, and who knows, he could hurt someone else again. The triple murder case at a home in Great Falls involved the Chen family. In this episode we tell the story of Edward Chen and crimes he committed in the late 1990s in Great Falls, Virginia. HARRIS COUNTY, Texas A man accused in a 2014 quadruple murder in the Cypress area was arrested Sunday, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. They lived a quiet, uneventful life, and people had no idea about the tragedy that would befall the family. "It is very unclear whether he was working," said Horan. But the reasons why you would take the life of children? HENRY COUNTY, Va. . The crime. For Love or Money | Landsakes For example, Guilderland police had to find an interpreter who spoke the appropriate Chinese dialect to communicate with some of the people who knew the Chen family, local media reported. Family sues security guard accused of murdering man in Chesapeake It was a shock for everyone. He did, however, concede that Chen had indeed often had his friends over for low-stakes card games. [6] Even so, Soares admitted at a news conference around the anniversary of the Chens' deaths that very little progress had been made. Fairfax Man Admits Killing Parents, Brother - The Washington Post Gaining entry, authorities found 37-year-old Teresa Lynn Hodges' body on a couch, still burning she had been strangled and doused with diesel fuel. Investigators also looked into any possible links to multiple homicide cases involving members of Chinese families in Mississippi and Texas, but found no direct connections, The Altamont Enterprise reported. As reported by A&E, the brothers both enjoyed working with plants and were part of the school's garden club. What exactly do you call a gathering of Chads? However, Mandy never turned Ed in, they got married, had a child together and were married for about two years. The combined plea and sentencing hearing brought an abrupt end to a case that unfolded just as suddenly nine months ago, when Chen's ex-girlfriend called Fairfax County police and revealed Chen's secret. However, they did not find any links to the Chen family or the murders. As many of the people they sought to interview were Chinese and did not speak fluent English, detectives had to determine which dialect the witnesses used and find appropriate interpreters. Also, how do you WILLINGLY help someone cut up bodies and dump them. All Rights Reserved. He was sixty-one years old at the time of his death, choosing the electric chair over lethal injection as a form of protest. [1], Local law enforcement officials said later that the investigation progressed very slowly during its first 48 hours, a crucial period. Edward Y. Chen pleaded guilty this morning to three counts of first-degree murder, admitting that he shot his parents and older brother to death in their Great Falls home in 1995, then left. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Its season 4 episode 6, titled Ghost of Great Falls.. The family was laid to rest at All Faiths Cemetery in Middle Village, in the New York City borough of Queens. He was sentenced to 36 years in prison. This was a very intentional act with very intended targets, Soares said in a October 6, 2015 press conference. The Chen Family Murders It's Crime O Clock Somewhere On May 29, 2019, Rachel Ozuna, her 14-year-old son Kyrrus and her boyfriend, Michael Coleman, were found in their Arlene Acres Drive home bound with their throats cut. Ed had become very unhappy and even confrontational. All of the Chen properties were held in a family trust, with Raymond Chen appointed as trustee. Seattle doctor admits to killing son, partner In the course of their investigation, authorities received hundreds of tips and followed up on numerous leads. [6][4], The crime stunned Guilderland, normally a quiet suburb. [6] They attended the local elementary school. Horan has indicated he will consider seeking the death sentence for the younger Chen. However, Vickie was the one to end the relationship. Chen will be eligible for geriatric release when he is 60, after serving about 33 years. At this rate, the police still didnt have the bodies, but they did decide to do one more thing. Soon they had a new baby daughter. Security guard convicted in killing of Pokemon Go-playing grandfather "[4], Bramblett was a suspect in the 1977 disappearances of Tammy Akers and Angela Rader, who were both 14 years old and worked for him at the time. We're taking a break from Beyond Belief for a few weeks (but staying in the 90s) to cover a true crime case that is local to MM's neck of the woods and we have a coincidental connection to: the Chen Family murders in Great Falls, Virginia in August 1995. He left a $25,000/year job in February, Horan said, because he didnt want to do it any more. Feng Lu, 58, was taken into custody when he landed in San Francisco on a flight from China, Gonzalez said. Raymond Chen began working in real estate, including overseeing five Fairfax properties his parents bought, and Edward Chen enrolled at the University of Virginia. Chen's father owned a heating and ventilation company in Taipei and sent his sons to Northern Virginia for their education. Although the police had no idea that the family was missing, she claimed that the triple murder occurred in August 1995. The boys father was in the United States legally, but their mother was not, according to unnamed sources quoted by Newsday. A year after the killings, P. David Soares, Albany Countys district attorney, offered immunity from immigration charges to anyone who came forward with information. Franklin was put to death in 2013 for a different murder. Unfortunately, they have not been able to identify any viable suspects or persons of interest. Hello, listeners. In addition, two women testified that, in the 1970s, Bramblett had given them alcohol and molested them when they were eleven and fourteen years old.[1]. Interestingly, the court initially considered Edwards confession in police custody inadmissible, but Mandy, Michael, and Vickies testimonies helped strengthen the case. I hope that by not going to trial, I saved everyone more pain and suffering. Samantha was eventually picked up that day by a friend of Eds. Michael said he would cut them up and throw them in the ocean. The elder Chens lived mostly in Taiwan and were not reported missing. The police said he was very matter of fact and didnt show much emotion. Authorities explored similar murders of Chinese individuals and families in the region but were unable to find enough evidence to link any of those crimes to the Chen family murders. I'm going to my death with a clear conscience. Two similar houses in the same neighborhood sold last fall for $825,000 and $1,000,000, according to county records. Police were called to the scene and determined that the family had been killed sometime in the hours before dawn that day by either a knife or a hammer. McLean family killed in murder-suicide, police say 6624 Sky Blue Court, Alexandria, VA 22315 - Samuel Appiah-Kusi murdered his wife, Monica O. Telfer, then committed suicide here. He recalled having brief conversations with Jin, whose English was adequate enough. Chen was arraigned in Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Monday. Fairfax Station/Clifton/Lorton Connection, Presidential Appointment for Mount Vernons Horticulture Director, Good Shepherd Partners with Amazon in Housing Quest, Expo Emphasizes Environmental Stewardship in Mount Vernon. It is rumored that Jin Feng Che was heavily involved in the underground network and personally handled many of the transactions, often keeping large amounts of money in his home. GUILDERLAND . Open Case Virginia: Fire Fuels Fresh Suspicion About Short Family Murders (WDBJ7 News) Short Family's Former Henry County Home Destroyed by Fire; Cause Unknown (WSLS News) If you know anything about the murder of the Short family, please call the FBI's major case contact center at 1-800-225-5324, or submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov Police were also frustrated when Apple refused their initial requests to release the Chens' iPhone records. I think he should have gotten life in prison, because he can still get out around age 60 for good behavior, according to one of the articles. Kingstowne 6489 Windham Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22315 - Judith M. Caudill was shot here by her son, Ralph. Despite an investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies that reached as far as Canada and China, the brutal killings of a family of four in upstate New York remain unsolved. Man arrested in cold case Chen family murders. : r/houston - Reddit [4], Investigators were also looking at possible connections with two other unsolved killings of Chinese immigrant families that had occurred elsewhere in the U.S. during the 2010s. While the family was considered good-natured and quite generous, people who knew them mentioned how they would frequently travel to Taiwan to meet their relatives. By Joyce Chen July 15, 2016 Youtube 9 Some of the most chilling murders in recent history have taken place between family members, including the case of the Memphis mother who slashed four of. A World Journal reporter in attendance later told the Albany Times-Union that she and her colleagues believed the family knew more about what might have led to the killings than they were ready to say publicly. However, authorities never confirmed his involvement. Bramblett was tried, convicted, and sentenced to death on December 16, 1997, after the jury deliberated for one hour.
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