> At a Glance
> – David Nguyen, 38, charged with suffocating 72-year-old Terrie Nguyen
> – Police say he tried to hide the crime by filling house with gas and lighting a candle
> – Arrested after crashing during a high-speed chase on Interstate 70
> – Why it matters: The case highlights a disturbing escalation in family violence and the extreme measures taken to cover it up
David Nguyen now faces two felony counts-murder and concealment of homicidal death-after investigators say he killed his mother in her O’Fallon, Illinois home and then tried to trigger an explosion to destroy evidence.
Discovery and Timeline
Officers found Terrie Nguyen unresponsive during a welfare check at 1:30 p.m. on December 27. The 72-year-old salon worker had died under suspicious, violent circumstances, police said.
Suspect on the Run
Within hours, authorities named David Nguyen a person of interest and launched a multi-state search.
- 4:30 p.m.-Missouri troopers spotted his car heading west on Interstate 70 near Concordia
- He attempted to flee but crashed at mile marker 51
- Hospitalized, then booked into Lafayette County jail on a felony fleeing charge
O’Fallon Police Department later thanked Missouri agencies for “swift and professional cooperation” that ended the manhunt.
Court Filings
Formal charges filed by the St. Clair County State’s Attorney allege David:
- Struck Terrie about the face
- Placed plastic wrap over her nose and mouth, suffocating her
- Turned on unlit gas burners and left a lit candle in an attempt to blow up the house
He remains in custody pending extradition from Missouri to Illinois.
Community Reacts
Clients of Terrie’s nail salon in Collinsville have posted tributes on social media, remembering the woman now at the center of a homicide investigation.
Key Takeaways
- David Nguyen, 38, charged with first-degree murder and concealing a homicide
- Victim identified as his mother, 72-year-old Terrie Nguyen
- Alleged cover-up involved gas-filled house and lit candle
- High-speed chase ended with crash and arrest on I-70
- Extradition from Missouri to Illinois pending
The case continues as prosecutors prepare for trial.
