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WEST VALLEY CITY — A Labor Day barbecue escalated into domestic violence and ended in a homicide, according to police.
Thai Van Le, 44, was at an apartment, 1801 West Parkway Blvd. No. 3, with his girlfriend and their 4-month-old child, along with five others about 10:30 p.m. Monday, when he and his girlfriend got into an argument, according to West Valley police. It was not immediately known Tuesday what the argument was about.
Police say Thu Huong Thi Nguyen, 41, stabbed Le once in the back during the argument. Their child was present during the altercation. A knife was recovered at the scene but it "appeared that it had been washed in an effort to cover up evidence," according to a Salt Lake County Jail report.
Alcohol was believed to be a factor, according to West Valley Police Sgt. Jason Hauer.
"I was getting ready to go to bed and that's when my daughter said my friend was out there screaming," neighbor Wayne Jorgenson said. "All I heard was that he got stabbed in the apartment, then (someone) dragged his body out, stuck it in the back seat."
Friends drove Le to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Investigators found Nguyen back at the apartment and arrested her for investigation of aggravated murder, obstruction, and domestic violence in the presence of a child.
"We do believe that we have everyone involved in the incident," said Sgt. Jason Hauer of the West Valley City Police Department. "There is no current threat to the public."
In 2005, Nguyen was charged in 3rd District Court with aggravated assault, criminal mischief and two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child. The case was eventually dismissed because that state was unable to proceed, according to court records.
