Tho Ngoc Ly, a 40-year-old woman from San Pablo, California, was last seen on September 6, 2023. She disappeared along with her 74-year-old mother, Que Thi Tran. The two were reportedly at their shared residence in the 1900 block of Sutter Avenue in San Pablo before they went missing. Tho Ngoc Ly's husband, Phuc Vo, reported them missing on September 13, 2023, a week after they were last seen. Vo informed the San Pablo Police Department that his wife and mother-in-law had left for Southern California in a 2017 Honda Fit following a family argument.
During the initial investigation, detectives were unable to corroborate that Ly and Tran had ever reached Southern California. As the investigation continued, authorities began to find inconsistencies in Phuc Vo's statements. A significant development occurred when detectives observed Vo driving his wife's car, which he had reported as missing. The vehicle was later located on December 5, 2023, in Oakland. This discovery, coupled with other evidence gathered over several weeks, led investigators to believe that Vo was directly involved in the disappearance and suspected murders of his wife and mother-in-law.
In February 2024, a search warrant was served at Phuc Vo's home, where unspecified evidence was found. He was subsequently arrested and, on March 4, 2024, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office charged him with two counts of murder with a special circumstance enhancement. Vo is being held on $2 million bail and is awaiting trial. In a grim turn of events, on September 30, 2023, an unidentified body was recovered from the Alameda/Oakland estuary, which was later confirmed through DNA evidence in March 2024 to be the remains of Que Thi Tran. As of the latest reports, Tho Ngoc Ly's remains have not been located, and the investigation into her disappearance is ongoing. The couple has two children who were placed in the care of other family members following their father's arrest. Anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to contact the San Pablo Police Department Investigations Division at 510-215-3150.
Last Seen: Sep 06, 2023
