Sacramento coroner identifies victims in triple homicide
By Kim Minugh and Bill Lindelof
kminugh@sacbee.com
The Sacramento County Coroner's Office has identified the victims of Monday night's triple homicide in south Sacramento as Chio Chong Saechao, 46; Jerry Wang Saetern, 22; and Vern Cheo Saeteurn, 19. Coroner's and sheriff's officials could not explain the difference in the spelling of Vern Cheo Saeteurn's last name.
The mother and her two sons were shot to death in their residence on Home Country Way about 11 p.m. Monday. Sheriff's detectives allege they died at the hands of 47-year-old Kouei Wang Saetern (left), Chio Saechao's husband and the father of the couple's adult sons.
Kouei Saetern was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail early this morning on suspicion of three counts of murder. From there, he declined an interview with The Bee this afternoon.
A fight broke out between husband and wife, said sheriff's Sgt. Tim Curran. The fight escalated, and the adult sons tried to intervene on behalf of their mother, Curran said. (An earlier report that the fight started over what to watch on television has been discounted, investigators said late today.)
Kouei Saetern retrieved a rifle and came back to shoot the victims, Curran said.
The couple's young daughters, 12 and 7 years old, and a nephew had fled the house when the argument escalated and sought refuge at a neighbor's house, Curran said. They were not harmed.
Deputies arrived to find the three victims dead inside the home, each with one gunshot wound. They found Kouei Saetern in the garage and took him into custody for questioning.
Three rifles were taken from the home, including the one detectives believe was used in the attack.
Call The Bee's Kim Minugh, (916) 321-1038.
Photo gallery of vigil for victims
Photo caption: Two sheriff's detectives talk outside the home where a man shot his wife and two boys early Tuesday. Photo by Randy Pench
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