Boyfriend of Woman Found Dead in Car Trunk Arrested in Canada
SEAL BEACH — Police have arrested the boyfriend of a woman who was found dead in the trunk of her family’s car in May, authorities said Friday.
Phong Thanh Nguyen was arrested in Toronto, where police believe he had fled after the slaying, police said.
Kristie Nguyen’s badly decomposed body was found on May 31 in the trunk of a 1997 green Honda Civic in a Seal Beach neighborhood. She had been shot once in the upper torso.
Police were contacted on Aug. 8 by Canadian officials who had Phong Than Nguyen in custody for an unrelated matter.
Detective Darrell Hardin said Nguyen and his girlfriend had been having trouble with their relationship shortly before her killing and had separated at least once in the past year.
Police were alerted to the Civic by neighbors who complained of a foul smell coming from the car, which had been parked in the same spot for at least two weeks.
Nguyen is being held at the Seal Beach City Jail. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, police said.
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