Jacky Tran wanted to beat the devil out of his 3-year old

[Kalehue]

A Houston man is in jail on felony charges of critically injuring his 3-year-old son while trying to beat a “demon” out of the boy.

Jacky Tran, 35, is being held on $100,000 bond after his son, Bill, was flown to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital Saturday night with multiple skull fractures. The boy is expected to survive.

Sheriff’s deputies pulled up to the house on Lone Dove Court in western Harris County just after 7 p.m. to find all the windows open and loud music blaring from within, according to a court document. Through an open upstairs window, they saw Tran yelling and swinging something — possibly the child — up and down. They heard a child screaming, and forced their way into the house.

They ran upstairs and found the 3-year-old’s head severely swollen and maroon with bruising. The boy was unable to speak, and his eyes were swollen shut.

Tran told them he was trying to beat the demon out of the boy, according to the police report.

Tran faces a possible 5- to 99-year prison sentence if convicted of the felony assault charge, which could become a murder charge if the boy dies. The boy’s condition was not immediately available this afternoon.

Child Protective Services officials were interviewing Tran’s wife and the couple’s other child, a 6-year-old girl, this afternoon to find out more about what happened. The family has had no previous CPS involvement, and Tran appears to have no criminal record in the Houston area.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6359936.html

[thatsmallgrl]

I'd like to beat the devil out of this piece of shit.

I hope the little one makes it.

[Just my luck sucks]

Another fucking nut.

God, Lord Jesus, please explain to me why you give these fuckers precious babies. I don't understand --my best friend has been trying for years to have child and she'd treasure the hell out of a little one.

Oh and excuse my bad language and I'll excuse your fucking silence.

[Kalehue]

http://www.chron.com/photos/2009/04/05/16073864/260xStory.jpg

Jacky Tran believed he was an angel sent by God to rid his 3-year-old son of evil spirits, family members said.

As he sat behind bars Sunday night on felony child assault charges, he told tearful relatives that he had not hit the toddler, but had simply knocked the demon out of his son.

The son of the 35-year-old was left unresponsive — his head maroon from bruising, his eyes nearly swollen shut.

“Jacky thinks he’s an angel right now: that he’s sent by God to help everybody,” said Thuba To, Tran’s cousin-in-law.

The boy, who relatives said is named Bill, was listed in good condition at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital on Sunday. Tran, who is scheduled to appear in court Monday, remained in jail on $100,000 bail.

Sheriff’s deputies visited the Lone Dove Court home after 7 p.m. Saturday after a security alarm sounded.

When they arrived, all the windows were open and Buddhist chants were blaring from within. Through an upstairs window, Tran was seen yelling and swinging something — possibly the child — up and down, over and over, according to the police report.

Deputies heard a child screaming. Inside, they found the battered, barely conscious boy in his mother’s arms.
The boy was flown to the hospital, where he was being treated for multiple skull fractures.

Tran’s relatives and neighbors say the devout Buddhist never showed any tendencies toward violence. The family has no record with CPS, and Tran appears to have a clean criminal record. Those closest to him believe something within him just snapped.

“He’s a very nice person, a very responsible husband, a good person,” To said. “I think he’s run into a problem with psychology.”

To and several other grief-stricken relatives stopped to visit Tran in jail on Sunday before heading to the hospital to check on Bill.

Tran asked them to take care of his wife and children while he was in jail, but said he only expected to be there a few days, To said.

Residents of Tran’s subdivision said they were stunned as they watched sheriff’s deputies arrest their neighbor over an allegation of unthinkable cruelty.

Tran, who owned a flooring and tiling company, was described as one of the friendliest people in the neighborhood. He was always ready to lend a hand, said Abdul Badat, 45, who has lived across the street from Tran for about seven years.

Within the last week, however, neighbors say they noticed that Tran was acting strangely. On Wednesday, Badat said, he spotted Tran carrying a Buddhist statue into his house and the next day he saw the man throwing almost all his furniture into his front and back yards.

The front and back yards of the family’s house were still strewn with broken furniture Sunday.

“He threw everything out, even valuable things, because he says they’re evil,” To said.

By Friday morning, Badat decided to check on Tran, who allegedly told him that the statue he brought home earlier in the week was possessed by a demon and that he had buried it in a cemetery.

“He thought the demon came onto everything,” Badat said.

He decided during the week to become a vegetarian, eating only fruits and vegetables for days, his cousin-in-law said.

“He’s been Buddhist for many years, but not like this,” she said.

Buddhists typically eschew worldly goods and embrace pacifism and moderation. But Tran seemed suddenly to be taking his faith to extremes, neighbors said.

On Saturday, Tran’s next-door neighbor, 35-year-old Hau Nguyen, was surprised to hear a Buddhist prayer blasting from Tran’s house. It was impossible not to hear the ruckus, including Tran’s own yelling, neighbors said.

“We heard spanking and he started saying, ‘Get out,’ ‘Get out,’ ” said Nguyen’s 10-year-old daughter, Kristy, who was playing outside with other children in the neighborhood.

After an alarm sounded in the Tran home, the security company called Badat, who was listed as the emergency contact, and he advised them to send law enforcement.

Badat said Saturday’s nights events were incredibly strange.

“The thing we are most worried about right now is both of the children,” he said. “That is our biggest concern.”

Child Protective Services workers placed Tran’s older daughter in foster care and will ask a judge for custody on Monday.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6359936.html

[Unamused Cat]

Someone needs to beat the crazy out of him. :mad:

[Ninja0980]

Going to go out on a limb but I'm betting he told a couple of people he thought his son was possessed. I'm also betting this was a slow, steady decline into madness. I know because of what was done, a innocent child being beaten so badly, that people just want to hang this man. But based on what I've read so far, he is mentally ill. We have fathers or surrgate penises who have beaten kids because they won't stop crying, they're drunk, they hate kids etc. Selfish reasons all. But this man thought he was saving his son and thinks he'll be home in a few days. That is NOT a rational mind IMO

[jo_momma_82]

Why is it that God is always the one prompting abuse or murder ? Whoever this God fella' is... I say we hunt him down and ask him a few questions !

[AussieMum]

The poor, poor little darling!!
My prayers are with sweet one, I hope you recover fully.

[Kalehue]

A southwest Harris County man who is accused of beating his 3-year old son said the child had been invaded by demons after he ate meat, a prosecutor said today.

Jacky Tran, 35, is charged with injury to child with serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony. He is being held in the county jail on $100,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

During a court hearing Monday morning before state District Judge Debbie Mantooth Stricklin, prosecutors said that Tran, a vegetarian, thought some meat his son ate caused demons to enter the boy.

"The defendant said eating meat will cause demons in the child," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Angela Weltin said during the hearing.

Weltin also told Stricklin that a deputy who was dispatched to the home saw the child's mother in the tub with the boy bathing his swollen face with water to soothe him.

"The mother kept repeating it was demons in the child," Weltin said in court.

Prosecutors refused to say if the mother could be charged, but said they are investigating the case.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6359936.html

If they're strict vegetarians and they think meat causes demons, I'm wondering where the child got the meat. I would think they're still controlling his diet at age 3.

Pretty screwy story. The little boy has multiple skull fractures, but is expected to survive.

[Ninja0980]

Get that boy out of there! Mom sounds off her rocker just as much as Dad does. Her thinking a demon's inside her son might indicate he could get that type of beating again, and he might not survive the next one.

[ohmarvellousme!]

It definately sounds like both parents are totally nuts. They need to be sentenced to an indefinite term in a mental institution. And IF they are ever released, they should never be allowed near these two kids, nor any others again.

Its miraculous that little Bill survived that beating, his poor swollen head was MAROON with the bruising, FFS!

Poor child, I hope he makes a full recovery, and both kids are placed in a loving, safe, SANE home.

[silvahalo68]

Going to go out on a limb but I'm betting he told a couple of people he thought his son was possessed. I'm also betting this was a slow, steady decline into madness. I know because of what was done, a innocent child being beaten so badly, that people just want to hang this man. But based on what I've read so far, he is mentally ill. We have fathers or surrgate penises who have beaten kids because they won't stop crying, they're drunk, they hate kids etc. Selfish reasons all. But this man thought he was saving his son and thinks he'll be home in a few days. That is NOT a rational mind IMO

I think you are on to something there Ninja. Most SOB's we read about are vicious fuckers taking out anger and frustrations on innocent children. I think this person seriously lost it and based on family and friends his behavior is very different than what was previously observed, prior to the last several days. Sounds like he has the mother believing his nut rant too. The child needs to be pulled out of a bad situation that could end with his death next time.

“Jacky thinks he’s an angel right now: that he’s sent by God to help everybody,” said Thuba To, Tran’s cousin-in-law.
Sounds more like Jacky's been listening to a demons not God. Every nut case who hears voices thinks its God. I think God has his hands full right now and probably doesn't appreciate having his good name used this way....I know I wouldn't. Bah! what a wild-weed, sure as fuck no angel, though maybe an angel of death.....best kept behind closed doors.

I hope this child heals completely, though I don't think he will entirely forget this nightmare. Wishing both children a happy, loving life.

[Special2bme]

A southwest Harris County man who is accused of beating his 3-year old son said the child had been invaded by demons after he ate meat, a prosecutor said Monday.

Jacky Tran, 35, is charged with injury to child with serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony. He is being held in the county jail on $100,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

During a court hearing Monday morning before state District Judge Debbie Mantooth Stricklin, prosecutors said that Tran, a vegetarian, thought some meat his son ate caused demons to enter the boy.

"The defendant said eating meat will cause demons in the child," said Assistant Harris County District Attorney Angela Weltin said during the hearing.

Weltin also told Stricklin that a deputy who was dispatched to the home saw the child's mother in the tub with the boy bathing his swollen face with water to soothe him.

"The mother kept repeating it was demons in the child," Weltin said in court.

The mother, Phung Tran, 36, has been charged with injury to a child. She is in the Harris County jail without bail and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

Sheriff's deputies visited the Lone Dove Court home after 7 p.m. Saturday after a security alarm sounded.

When they arrived, all the windows were open and Buddhist chants were blaring from within. Through an upstairs window, Tran could be seen repeatedly punching down with his fist, prosecutors said.

During a lull in the loud music, deputies heard a child screaming. Inside, they found the naked, battered, barely conscious boy in his mother's arms in the bathtub.

Medics flew the boy to the hospital, where he was being treated for multiple skull fractures. Officials said he is expected to survive.

Sunday night, Tran told tearful relatives who visited him in jail that he had not hit the toddler, but had simply knocked the demon out of him.

The father's outburst left the little boy unresponsive, his head maroon from bruising, his eyes nearly swollen shut.

[...]
Tran's relatives and neighbors say the devout Buddhist had never shown any tendencies toward violence. The family has no record with CPS, and Tran appears to have no criminal record. Those closest to him believe something within him just snapped.

"He's a very nice person, a very responsible husband, a good person," To said. "I think he's run into a problem with psychology."

To and several other grief-stricken relatives stopped to visit Tran in jail on Sunday before heading to the hospital to check on the child, Bill.

Tran asked them to take care of his wife and children while he was in jail, but said he only expected to be there a few days, To said.

Residents of Tran's middle-class subdivision said they were stunned as they watched sheriff's deputies arrest their neighbor over an allegation of unthinkable cruelty.

Tran, who owned a flooring and tiling company, was described as one of the friendliest people in the neighborhood. He was always ready to lend a hand, said Abdul Badat, 45, who has lived across the street from Tran for about seven years.

Within the last week, however, neighbors noticed that Tran been acting strangely. On Wednesday, Badat said he spotted Tran carrying a Buddhist statue into his house and the next day he saw the man throwing almost all his furniture into his front and back yards.

The front and back yards of the family's house were still strewn with broken furniture Sunday.

"He threw everything out, even valuable things, because he says they're evil," To said.

By Friday morning, Badat decided to check on Tran, who told him that the statue he brought home earlier in the week was possessed by a demon and that he had buried it in a cemetery. He also told Badat that the furniture in the home had also been tainted.

"He thought the demon came onto everything," Badat said.

He decided during the week to become a vegetarian, eating only fruits and vegetables for days, his cousin-in-law said.

"He's been Buddhist for many years, but not like this," she said.

Buddhists typically eschew worldly goods and embrace pacifism and moderation. But Tran seemed suddenly to be taking his faith to extremes, neighbors said.

On Saturday, Tran's next-door neighbor, 35-year-old Hau Nguyen, was surprised to hear a Buddhist prayer blasting from Tran's house. It was impossible not to hear the ruckus, including Tran's own yelling, neighbors said.

"We heard spanking and he started saying 'Get out,' 'Get out,'" said Nguyen's 10-year-old daughter, Kristy, who was playing outside with other children in the neighborhood.

After an alarm sounded in the Tran home, the security company called Badat, who was listed as the emergency contact, and he advised them to send law enforcement.

Badat said Saturday's nights events were incredibly strange.

"The thing we are most worried about right now is both of the children," he said. "That is our biggest concern."

Child Protective Services placed Tran's older daughter in foster care and planned to ask a judge for custody.

Tran is scheduled to appear in court again on the case May 14.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6359936.html

[Jaded]

Mom was arrested too...

http://i44.tinypic.com/141qftg.jpg

One day after a father was charged of beating his 3-year-old son to "beat the demons" out of him, the boy's mother was accused in the crime.
[...]
On Monday, his wife, Phung Tran, 36, was charged with injury to a child. Investigators said they believe she hit the boy with a stick and then tried to clean up his body.

"The wife was found with the child in the bathtub of the house in an attempt to clean up the child," Darby said.


http://www.click2houston.com/news/19110236/detail.html#-

[Jaded]

Based on new information, I thought they deserved a FP spot...

http://www.dreamindemon.com/2009/04/07/jacky-tran-doesnt-like-demons/

[Kalehue]

They now have a witness statement from the little boy's 6-year old sister. She must be quite traumatized after witnessing her little brother take this savage beating.

Mom shuffled through the courtroom yesterday with her eyes closed. Both parents sound like true nut jobs.

Both parents of a 3-year-old southwest Harris County boy beat him with bamboo sticks and poked his feet with chopsticks in a violent attempt to remove demons from his body, a prosecutor said today in a court hearing.

Assistant Harris County District Attorney Darin Darby, citing a witness statement from the boy's 6-year-old sister, today presented new details of the attack to state District Judge Debbie Mantooth Stricklin in the case against Phung Tran, 36.

She and her husband, Jacky Tran, 35, are charged with injury to a child with serious bodily injury, a first-degree felony. He was arrested at the scene, but his wife was charged Monday.

Both face up to life in prison if convicted.

Prosecutors say the parents, devout Buddhists and vegetarians, believed demons entered the boy through meat he ate.

Medics flew the boy to the hospital, where he was being treated for multiple skull fractures. Officials said he is expected to survive.

The Trans remain in Harris County jail on $100,000 bond each. Phung Tran's attorney, Charles Brown said he wanted a psychiatric evaluation done soon. At Monday's hearing, she shuffled through the courtroom with her eyes closed.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6359936.html

[Morgana]

Yeah and they thought that the demon was inside him because he did what????? Just ate the meat? Because if a demon really was inside of him, it would of killed their sorry asses! They make me sick!

[AussieMum]

This makes me so sick. I'm sure my 3 year old is possessed most of the time but its part of being 3 years old!!!! They are cheeky, testing little monkeys who offer so much unconditional love!!!

How the hell could these assholes beat him so bad????

Recover fully precious one and big hugs to the sweet sister who witnessed this horror.

I'm so angry and just want to hug my baby and never let her go.

[timhoustontx]

he's obviously snapped, lost it...and his wife doesn't know how to deal with it.

[lucky]

all I keep thinking is I wonder what goes through a 3 year olds mind when they are suffering like that at the hands of their parents. I can almost hear the screams of pain just thinking about it and it's horrifying.

I hope this little guy is doing better and will be safe from his parents now and forever.