On April 23, 2020, Ya Sosavanh, 68, was found dead in his home in Redding, California. The discovery was made by his wife when she returned home around 5 p.m. that day. Alongside Sosavanh, the body of Cheng Chu, 64, was also found. Both men had sustained gunshot wounds, leading investigators to quickly determine that this was a double homicide. The California Department of Justice assisted the Redding Police Department in processing the crime scene, collecting numerous items of evidence that suggested a violent confrontation had taken place.
The investigation revealed that Nouan Mokthephathai, a 74-year-old neighbor, was a prime suspect in the killings. Mokthephathai had ongoing disputes with both Sosavanh and Chu, primarily revolving around Chu's attempts to evict Mokthephathai from his residence. On the day of the murders, surveillance footage showed Chu arriving at Sosavanh's home and later walking over to Mokthephathai's house.
Despite initially denying any contact with Chu that day, Mokthephathai later admitted to shooting Chu during an interview with the police. However, he claimed that Chu was the one who shot Sosavanh.
Further investigation into Mokthephathai's home uncovered a shotgun with a spent slug round, adding to the evidence against him. The police report noted a significant amount of blood around the bodies and a pistol in Chu's hand, which did not appear to be covered in blood like the surrounding area. This detail raised questions about the sequence of events and the exact circumstances of the shootings. Despite Mokthephathai's claims, the evidence collected was sufficient for the authorities to arrest him on suspicion of both murders.
Mokthephathai was charged with two counts of homicide and booked into the Shasta County Jail with a bail set at $1,000,000. The case highlighted the complexities of neighborly disputes escalating into violence and the challenges faced by law enforcement in piecing together the events leading to such tragic outcomes. The investigation continued as forensic experts reviewed the collected evidence to build a comprehensive case against Mokthephathai.
