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Upper Makefield mother charged with homicide in sons’ shooting

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The Bucks County mother who authorities said shot her two young sons in Upper Makefield Township last week is now facing first-degree murder charges after the boys died Friday.

Trinh T. Nguyen, 38, has been in custody since Monday, May 2, when she shot both of her sons in their beds and attempted to shoot a neighbor at 119 Timber Ridge Road, Upper Makefield, the Bucks County DA’s office said.

Her sons, 9-year-old Nelson Tini and 13-year-old Jeffrey Tini, had been on life support since the shooting and were pronounced dead Friday at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“I have been praying for these boys and their surviving family for days,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said. “I am so sad to hear of their passing. This defendant’s murder of two of her sons is unconscionable and horrific. We will do what needs to be done to seek justice for all of them.”

In an updated criminal complaint, filed Monday, May 9, Bucks County and Upper Makefield Township detectives said Nguyen planned the killing at least a week earlier, leaving a handwritten will dated April 25, 2022, that instructed the recipient about what to do with her and her sons’ remains.

Nguyen was arraigned Monday morning before District Judge Michael W. Petrucci on two counts of murder of the first degree and one count each of attempted homicide, possession of an instrument of crime and possession of a controlled substance. She has been incarcerated at the Bucks County Correctional Facility since last week when she was charged with attempted homicide. She was denied bail because of the nature of the offense.

After shooting the boys and attempting to shoot a neighbor, authorities said, Nguyen fled. She was found by law enforcement later the same morning inside her minivan parked at the United Methodist Church in Washington Crossing and taken into custody. She was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center due to the indication that she was under the influence.

During her arraignment later that day before Petrucci, Nguyen said she did not flee. She claimed to have traveled to New Jersey to obtain narcotics, which she ingested in an attempt to kill herself, according to a criminal complaint. A note was located on the passenger-side dashboard and seized. The note read: “Please call 911! My children are Dead in their bed at 119 Timber Ridge Rd 18940.”

During the investigation, detectives learned that Nguyen was being evicted from her residence and was given notice to vacate by Tuesday, May 3.


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