California woman dies after being dragged by car for a mile

By Carol Forsloff

WESTMINSTER, California – Charges have been laid in the brutal murder of a 38-year-old woman who was dragged by a car for a mile before she fell off.

Tuyet Thi Huynh was dragged to death last Saturday during a robbery attempt.

Authorities have now charged two Asian gang members with her killing.

Christopher Dai-Ichi Yu, 18, of Fountain Valley, and Lynn Ai Quach, 19, of Garden Grove are accused of enticing Huynh to meet with them under the false pretext of selling her drugs.

When Huynh went to the car to pay for the drugs, Yu reached and grabbed the money as Huynh’s purse became caught inside. Her arm was tangled around her purse as Yu drove away, dragging the victim more than a mile, before she fell from the car, the Orange County DA’s office said.

“When the victim approached the passenger window of the defendants’ car holding cash, Yu is accused of grabbing the cash from Huynh’s hand. Huynh’s purse became tangled on the car and Huynh’s arm was tangled in the purse,” said the DA’s office.

“Quach is accused of beginning to drive away and Huynh was dragged for almost a mile until she fell from the outside of the car and landed on the road,” a statement said.

Huynh’s boyfriend, Truong Pham, 36, who had waited for her in his car as she went to buy the drugs, saw the incident and drove after the suspects but was unable to stop them after they shot at his car.

He and a witness at the scene called 9-1-1, and Huynh was taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead from head injuries received during the incident.

A passing Orange County Sheriff’s deputy, who had witnessed the two speeding vehicles, stopped Yu and Quach and held them until two Westminster police officers arrived. The two gang members had a firearm and Huynh’s purse in their possession at the time of their arrest by the officers, said the DA’s office.

Yu and Quach are both charged with several felony counts including special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery and attempted murder with sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity.

Quach faces sentencing enhancement for the vicarious discharge of a firearm by a gang member.

These charges can bring a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if they are convicted. Both are being held without bail and were arraigned on Tuesday.

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Posted by Carol Forsloff on Mar 30 2010. Filed under U.S. and World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry