Who Killed Brian Tzeo’s Family?
March 13, 2009 by Morbid
UPDATE – Suspect identified as Chiew Chan Saevang, a suspected opium smuggler . Washington County Utah it is being reported police were involved in a car chase with the suspect early this morning, who was with is girlfriend, Yer Yang. Catawba County Sheriff’s Office tells NewsChannel 36 the suspect shot Yer Yang as they were being followed by Utah authorities and then turned the gun on himself as the vehicle ran off the roadway. Drugs seem to be the motive.
Chiew Chan Saevang
CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. – I don’t normally like to report on cases like this as they will usually get enough major press anyway. But this one is local to me, the story quite tragic, and someone out there killed four people on Thursday morning and has not been caught yet. The picture above is a sketch of the person they are looking for. On Thursday morning, a friend of 18-year-old Pauline Chao arrived at her home to take her to Bunker Hill High School. She observed a man run to the back of the house as they were driving off and informed Pauline what she had seen. Pauline asked to be taken back to the home, and as her friend watched in horror, a man from inside drug Pauline through the front door and begin attacking her. The teen ran off calling 911. By time police arrived 18 minutes later, Pauline, her mother, Lisa Saephan, her sister, 20-year-old Melanie Saephan, and her brother, 3-year-old Cody Saechao were all dead of stab and gunshot wounds.
The husband was at work in Statesville at the time of the murders, and since receiving news of his family’s death, he has not eaten and has stated he no longer has anything to live for. And I can sympathize with the guy. Investigators have stated that the women attempted to fight off their attacker. They also found a gun behind the house as well as two stolen cars near the residence. The suspect is described as a Hispanic or Asian man in his late 30s or early 40s, and about 5 feet 4 inches tall. He was wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans or sweatpants believed to be in a black or dark blue newer model Toyota Camry with the partial license plate P24.
Brian Tzeo, Lisa Seaphan, Melanie Saephan, Pauline Chao on dreamindemon.com
“My personal opinion is that this was a selected situation. It was not random,” Sheriff David Huffman. said. “They did not arbitrarily pick that house. They knew who lived there and what the situation was because the father had gone to work in another county, apparently. The person apparently knew the pattern, if you will, that the three women and the little child would be there.” “It appears at this point in the investigation he knew where he was going, and he came to do what he wanted to,” Major Coy Reid said.
Suspect sketch in Lisa Saephan family murder
Like I said, this will be covered good enough, with an airing on AMW on SaturdaySaturday reviews
, but whatever. At this point, any bit of information being spread couldn’t hurt.
UPDATE – More details to come, but just heard on the news that at 2 a.m., police released an APB on the suspect in this case. Then in Washington County Utah it is being reported police were involved in a high speed chase with the suspect early this morning, who also had a female passenger. Catawba County Sheriff’s Office tells NewsChannel 36 the suspect shot his girlfriend as they were being followed by Utah authorities and then turned the gun on himself as the vehicle ran off the roadway. Newsnews
conference at 9 a.m.
5:02 pm on March 13th, 2009
Wow. They just released the 911 call from the girl who was with Pauline when she got drug into the house. She had actually walked to the door with Pauline and they heard crying inside. Before they could do anything, the man pulled Pauline in and immediately started stabbing her. The other girl took off running.
5:09 pm on March 13th, 2009
Just reading what you wrote, Morbid, makes it even scarier.
Oh my Lord….This story reads like a horror movie. This is truly chilling…who would do such a thing?
5:09 pm on March 13th, 2009
Would you post the 911 call?
5:11 pm on March 13th, 2009
Yeah, as soon as they post it. I was watching television and they played a snippet of it right when I hit the publish button.
5:17 pm on March 13th, 2009
there seems to be some type of video on this case on the WCNC.COM news site.
I found this online while searching for the story…
CALLER: So I turned back and she was like I’m so scared I don’t want to walk to the door. And so then I walked with her to the door. Then the guy at the door started beating her up and I didn’t know what to do. … I started running when I saw the guy at the door.
OPERATOR: What did the man look like?
CALLER: I don’t know. … He was wearing a blue hoodie with a backpack. He looked like a high school kid, but he doesn’t look like it when I saw his face.
OPERATOR: Do you think she knew who he was?
CALLER: I don’t know, because when she opens the door he was mean and he just started beating her up.
CALLER: When we were at the door we heard crying, and when he opened the door he started beating her. He was stepping on her.
OPERATOR: Were you at her house when he started beating her?
CALLER: Yes, and I took off running because I was so scared. That’s when I got in the car and I told my brother to call 911 and I took off.
5:23 pm on March 13th, 2009
My GOD. I’ve been witness to some frightening shit, but nothing that can even hold a candle next to this sheer terror. I’m not even really sure what to say about it.
5:25 pm on March 13th, 2009
Oh my God how awful. What more is there to say? I feel so sorry for Brian Tzeo, he must be a wreck. My thoughts are with him.
I hope they catch the asshole who wiped out his entire family and soon. Knowing that somebody that callous is on the run gives me the creeps.
5:27 pm on March 13th, 2009
Yup, that is exactly how I feel and I am no where near NC. When I read this, a cold chill went down my spine. Like I said, it sounds like some scary movie…but sadly it’s all too real….My prayers are with Brian Tzeo and his family.
5:32 pm on March 13th, 2009
No that most stories here are not a cold slap of reality, but I guess what got me on this one is the fact that within a span of about 5 minutes, two girls went from heading to school, to one watching the other being murdered. Can you imagine how the teen who walked to the door with Pauline are feeling right now?
5:35 pm on March 13th, 2009
That is what got me too. The stories posted on here are horrible in nature, but this one is not only horrible but also creepy and terrifying for the friend. She will surely need some counseling.
But this crime was done by someone who knew the family. Otherwise, why would he only grab Pauline and not the friend?
5:38 pm on March 13th, 2009
Where can I hear it, or are you gonna post it in the article?
This is such a tragedy, I know that family friend is wishing that her and Pauline had just called 911 before going back….. She will “what if” herself into a mental hospital… Hopefully she is already in counseling…..
I wonder if the 20 year old has/had a vindictive/revengeful boyfriend? Surely, the authorities are looking into that already!
5:41 pm on March 13th, 2009
Oops, nevermind, I see you answered that question, already! I’ll be waiting….
5:49 pm on March 13th, 2009
No, I can’t. It’s a good thing she ran for it or there would likely be no witnesses. The fact that there is one will probably make or break this case. Hopefully that knowledge will comfort the poor girl a little.
I’m sure she is terrified at the moment since this guy is still at large. I hope they catch him soon so she and Brian Tzeo can breathe a little easier.
5:55 pm on March 13th, 2009
Beautiful family. I hope they catch this guy soon..
RIP Pauline, Lisa, Melanie and Cody
5:56 pm on March 13th, 2009
WOW! a family gone just like that.
6:37 pm on March 13th, 2009
Thanks, Morbid. I used to live in Charlotte, Matthews area, and worked in that County (PMUSA plant, now closed I believe).
Charlotte/Matthews was probably one, if not the best, city I’ve ever lived in and heard it’s even better now.
I don’t think I want to hear the 911 call just yet. Thanks for publishing and I’ll keep up with the local new affiliates. It’s just so awful.
6:48 pm on March 13th, 2009
Fucking creepy as hell!
6:59 pm on March 13th, 2009
Man, this is some bad shit.
Condolences to the father/husband.
I hope for prompt and appropriate justice to the perp.
7:23 pm on March 13th, 2009
I pray like crazy they find him and soon. I shudder to think how scared the friend was and is knowing she is the only living witness.
I agree this has to be personal. Someone felt very wronged by either one of the daughters or the father. Horror of horrors.
RIP Pauline, Lisa, Melanie and Cody
My deepest, most heartfelt sympathies to the father/husband and family.
9:58 pm on March 13th, 2009
This is going to sound overly dramatic, but shit like this just cements for me why I don’t really believe in God.
Any time I hear some religious person comment on something like this, saying that God has a “plan” and there is a “reason” for everything, I seriously want to punch that person in the face.
I am sorry if I offended anyone with this comment, but my ability to edit myself is compromised because I’m just so fucking disgusted by this story. If I believed in God, I’d be asking if He or She could make sure this fucker is not only caught and convicted of first degree murder, but ass-raped in jail every day for the rest of his miserable fucking life.
Better yet, just tie him up in a chair and leave me alone with him, his balls and a blowtorch. And a rusty butcher knife. Great for cutting off his balls before I slit his fucking throat.
FUCKER! Please let the police catch this piece of shit soon.
Gee, I hope I don’t sound too psycho!
2:11 am on March 14th, 2009
This happened 10 or less miles up the road from where I live. Everyone here is really freaked out. I know from all the stories I read that this can happen anywhere…but Damn…I am still in shock that it happened so close. I never will be able to wrap my mind around the fact that some people can be so cavalier about people and the taking of their lives. I can’t imagine Mr. Tzeo’s grief….I feel so so sorry for him. He had a lovely family. I hope they catch the SOB who did this soon!!
2:30 am on March 14th, 2009
There has also been some mix up about the age…at first he was 20-30, now it is 30 to 40. I feel it was def. personal. All the family members were stabbed and shot; couple that with the statement by the witness (God I can’t even IMAGINE what she is going through right now!) about him immediately beating Pauline and stepping on her…..a lot of rage…personal; very personal. The only question is who this rage was directed at in particular. The other creepy part for me is Sheriff Huffman’s assessment that the pattern of this family was known…hmm…..makes me wonder if he waited for Pauline to leave as well and her returning was the only reason she got caught up in this? Could this be directed at the mother or older daughter in particular? I am GUESSING only it is some kind of domestic thing, more than likely directed at the 20 yo daughter.
5:48 am on March 14th, 2009
Reminds me of a short story I once read entitled “A Murder of Quality”.
The poor witness will likely never forgive herself for noticing that a man ran to the back of the house, – or for mentioning it to Pauline. It seems as though Pauline might have been alive today, and Mr Tzeos life not quite so empty, if she hadn’t. My deepest sympathy to her and to Mr Tzeos.
7:47 am on March 14th, 2009
I do not understand, why, the only part of the story I caught, was the husband, boyfriend,X. and worse of all “babbies daddy” was not a suspect. so quickly? who decides? I’m not gonna lie. Not read the story, yet. had trouble finding it. after tax increase’s, tax breaks, stimulus plans, housing problems, wall street, and I could go on and on. getting the point ? OUR children are falling to the way side. WAY to the w-a-y side. Point being, I would much rather remember the names on the innocent, instead of the guilty, same as you. But when we start putting our children on the third page and their killers on the first…..We, All, Need to take responsibility for that. “we the people” still have choices. use them wisely.
8:18 am on March 14th, 2009
@ deewhis1
Are you saying you think Mr Tzeos did this to his own family? Or that he paid someone else to do it (being quite clearly at work in another county at the time)?
And what this has to do with the financial crisis, I do not know, unless you are suggesting that he is one of those economically motivated family annihilators that cannot handle bankruptcy and think their family is better off dead than in the streets? I am sure the police are checking into this possibility.
Until I hear differently from them, however, I am going to believe that Mr Tzeos was cruelly bereft of his family by someone else. He has my deepest sympathy.
8:32 am on March 14th, 2009
I am confused by your statement, please forgive me if I misinterpreted but are you saying because they are a different nationality that they don’t deserve justice? OUR children? THEIR killers? If that is what you are saying I am going to be highly offended indeed!!! This had nothing to do with the financial crisis as far as is known at this time, and furthermore the stimulus, taxes, etc. has nothing to do with this murder. An entire family was destroyed, THAT is what this is about, and finding their killer and getting justice for the slain ones. There is no THEY and WE; this is AMERICA and any legal resident is a WE regardless of their nationality. My heart hurts for anyone going through this be they black, white, blue or purple. At this time it is dissent like this that will make the situation MUCH worse. If we all pull together and become a REAL community we can all get through this troubled time. If I misinterpreted your statements and you didn’t mean it to be a racial slur, please forgive me and explain what it is you meant. Until then, I find your post about THEM and US offensive.
8:37 am on March 14th, 2009
I don’t know if anyone else asked or answered this, but why do the oldest and the youngest children have different last names?
8:42 am on March 14th, 2009
I don’t know, the family dynamics….I am just convinced this was some type of domestic issue, with a boyfriend or something. I haven’t heard the BF has been ruled out as a suspect, but I know the father has, as at this time with the information we have, I think he should be.
8:52 am on March 14th, 2009
That makes me want to give my mommy, daddy, and brother a biiiiiiggggg hug. But they live 450 miles away….
I sad now
9:28 am on March 14th, 2009
Looks like a lot o people want to know hy it took police 18 minutes to get to the house. The number didn’t really sound to big when first read it, until I realized that is almost how long it takes for me to get to work (apprx 15 mile away) in morning traffic.
9:42 am on March 14th, 2009
18 minutes to respond to an assault call? FAIL!
Suspect possibly Asian, victims have three different last names so I’m guessing an ex husband or boyfriend to one of the victims.
Since the killer was able to come to the door and drag the girl in, the others were either dead or subdued by the time she got back to the house. How long did it take them to return to the house?
If she lives there, its not likely that she walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. If she and her friend were standing at the door listening to cries when the killer reached out and pulled her in, then he had time to check the door for anyone coming to the home. Did the killer know or suspect that someone would be arriving at the door? Did he know that someone would be arriving to pick someone else at the home?
Something does not sound right about the story to me. If I’m driving away from someone’s house and see someone running up to the back of their house, I mention it right then, stop and see what is up. The story sounds like they drove off and then came back.
If the girl asked to return to the house after hearing that ” a man” was running up to the back of her house, she had reason to be concerned about that. Did she know there was “someone” out there that may do her family harm?
Stabbing, beating, kicking, all pretty personal as if the killer wants them to suffer pain before death. The gun is more of a I want you dead and dead now weapon.
Strange story indeed.
R
9:45 am on March 14th, 2009
Yeah I was fussing about that to my husband last night…18 minutes seems like a long time to respond to an emergency!! Could some of this family had been saved had they got there even 5 minutes earlier?
9:49 am on March 14th, 2009
I thought maybe he heard her unlocking the door or something?? Also in the 911 call she opened the door, could he have heard that?
I think it was as they were driving off, and it sounds like she was scared. Possibly argued back and forth about what to do for a couple of mintues??
If I saw someone running to the back of my house, I would be very concerned and I don’t have a reason to suspect someone was going to hurt my family…the actions of the guy running to the house was suspicious of and in itself. However if there was some type of former BF issue, chances are she knew about it and was concerned??
9:52 am on March 14th, 2009
I have been here reading a bit for a couple of weeks.
I just felt compeled to comment on this story.
This monster whom ever he may be deserves to
spend eternity in hell.
My thoughts and prayers are with this entire family.
9:55 am on March 14th, 2009
I was wondering about that, too. I mean, the caller reported that there was screaming and that an assault was actually taking place at the time, so 18 minutes seemed like an awfully long time to me. It’s not like reporting a burglary that happened earlier or was just discovered, or a scream that no one witnessed; someone saw an actual assault taking place, so you’d think the police would have raced right out there. But then, I live in a town that’s about three blocks long, so I thought maybe I just wasn’t understanding the distances involved or the reality of non-rural traffic or something.
10:12 am on March 14th, 2009
A second sketch has been released http://www.wcnc.com/images/031309-Sketches.jpg
If you ask me, those are two completely different people in the sketches.
R
10:21 am on March 14th, 2009
A few things pop into my head:
What kind of business was the father involved in?
Was the mom involved with someone else and this is a result of a broken relationship or domestic issue?
The sketch is of a 20, 30 or 40 yr. old as described by the young witness. Could it have possibly been a teen who the young girl was involved with?
I wonder if the daughter in any way had some internet relationship that went bad?
I don’t know, seems very deliberate and well planned. The 18 minutes for police to get there is unreal.
10:31 am on March 14th, 2009
“He said he and his wife recently separated by they were still living together and trying work things out.”
http://www.kansascity.com/440/story/1085196.html
Interesting.
10:31 am on March 14th, 2009
The confusion about the age of the perp is what is bugging me……apparently the witness thought he was teen by his body but not so much when she saw his face. These sketches are very rarely accurate, I think….the trauma and memory affects the victims and witnesses too much.
Idk think the mom, but at this point anything is possible…I even briefly wondered about an affair..then felt terrible cause the whole family is dead…..but this smacks of either a domestic issue or someone targeting this family for some reason….very personal…I mean shooting and stabbing plus beating? Speaks of loss of control and rage…a lot of rage.
I am more focusing on the 20 YO daughter…..the age (?) of the perp seems to fit that more. Also if the teen girl was involved with the perp he would have known she wasn’t there and would be heading to school, as if the implications are correct he was watching and knew their routines. I just don’t think the mom had anything to do with this….other than maybe they didn’t approve of this guy whomever he was involved with and stopped the relationship?? Idk…..
Yeah it does, and the 18 minutes bothers me greatly…makes me angry too…Gee I hope no one ever tries to kill me cause apparently EMT and emergency responds faster than the actual cops here….Geesh!!
10:36 am on March 14th, 2009
Yeah…makes you go Hmmmm……..The story is sad but it also addressed something Harley mentioned…she knocked on her own front doot? That is odd to me……
10:56 am on March 14th, 2009
yeah, OK he just made himself the prime suspect.
R
11:07 am on March 14th, 2009
Sadly when it is an “almost” an entire family killed, it is usually
another family member or someone close to the family.
There seem to be more unanswered questions than facts at this time.
11:32 am on March 14th, 2009
I have read several reports, One says she opened the door, while others say she knocked on it.
I believe in the 911 call the girl who made the call said she knocked on the door.
Cut-n-Paste from: http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-031309-mw-catawba_murders.2f296fea.html by someone claiming to be on the wife’s side of the family.
“Quote” even though, they are in the process of divorcing,i’m sure that the father has no means of doing this to his own family..things happen for a reason..and the reason as well as the results will soon come out of the surface..
Several more interesting comments for people claiming to be family.
R
2:08 pm on March 14th, 2009
My husband’s family is asian. He’s 33 and still gets carded for cigarettes. I can see where the confusion is coming from if the murderer is asian – not only is it hard to tell an asian’s age already, but she was under some major stress at the moment.
Eyewitnesses are rarely accurate, but it can happen.
2:18 pm on March 14th, 2009
Sorry to be insensitive, but am I the only person who thinks if you took the picture of Mr. Tzeo and put a hoody on him, he would look almost exactly like the artist sketch? I can’t stopping staring at the two and seeing an uncanny resemblence
2:25 pm on March 14th, 2009
frightening just frightening.
Add some sunglasses to that sketch and you got the una-bomber.
3:43 pm on March 14th, 2009
Was Mr. Tzeo actually at work as this thread states, or on his way to work as I had read in another news report? I had originally read that he had said he was ON HIS WAY TO work in another county at the time of the murders, but this article says he was AT work in Statesville.
If he has an aliby (still, he looks just like the sketch), then the stolen car found near the high school might suggest the 18 year old daughter seriously pissed off some nut although coincidence is possible. Regardless, it seems very personal and the perpetrator was quite angry at this family. I’m sure Police will be looking at Mr. Tzeo’s acquaintances, as well as those of the daughters and the wife, and determing who killed this family.
The man in that sketch looks decidedly Asian to me, not sure where they came up with “maybe Hispanic.” Start looking at othe Laotians in the area.
3:56 pm on March 14th, 2009
I am convinced the 18 year old was not a target as he waited for her to leave to approach the house. I think the 3/12 yo boy and her were just collateral damage……if he wanted them all he wouldn’t have waited for Pauline to leave….what do you think?
4:22 pm on March 14th, 2009
One would think if he was in fact waiting for her to leave, he would have waited another 20 seconds and let them get clear of the street and not be able to see him run up to the house.
R
4:51 pm on March 14th, 2009
Possibly, but maybe he didn’t realize he was visible? How did he gain access to the house? Front or back? I don’t think I have read that?
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