It took more than a month, but Sunday morning justice was delivered for Hoa Pham.
It was back on Nov. 10 that the normally quiet Drexel Hill community was rocked by the news of the vicious home invasion that took the life of the respected member of the Vietnamese community.
The heinous nature of the crime, which involved both Pham and his wife being tied up and beaten over the course of several hours, struck a chord in the community.
People began to wonder if they were safe in their homes. The attack appeared to be random. Police theorized the home was targeted because it was dark inside. Actually, Pham and his wife were preparing for bed.
They confronted the intruder, and so started a horrific ordeal that snuffed out the life of a man who had survived the horror of the Vietnam war and being held a prisoner of war.
It was said that Hoa Pham survived the brutality of the Vietnam War, but could not survive the mean streets of Upper Darby.
It took more than a month, but police believe they now have the man responsible for the brutal attack that took Pham’s life.
And there’s a bonus.
Superintendent Michael Chitwood indicated Saturday that DNA evidence led them to a career criminal, Jermaine Burgess, 37. He was charged with murder and a slew of other offenses in the Upper Darby home invasion.
It turns out police were not done with Burgess. It is believed he has now been implicated in a second unsolved murder in Delaware County. Police and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office are expected to file new charges against Burgess in the murder of Marie Ott of Ridley Township. Ott was found in her Crum Creek Drive home back on Oct. 27 by a family member. She had been tied up and stabbed. She was found with a plastic bag over her head.
Upper Darby police say Burgess confessed to his role in the Ott slaying after being taken into custody in the Pham murder. Upper Darby then contacted Ridley police.
It’s expected Burgess will be arraigned on murder charges this morning.
Those mean streets of Delaware County just got a lot safer.
It was back on Nov. 10 that the normally quiet Drexel Hill community was rocked by the news of the vicious home invasion that took the life of the respected member of the Vietnamese community.
The heinous nature of the crime, which involved both Pham and his wife being tied up and beaten over the course of several hours, struck a chord in the community.
People began to wonder if they were safe in their homes. The attack appeared to be random. Police theorized the home was targeted because it was dark inside. Actually, Pham and his wife were preparing for bed.
They confronted the intruder, and so started a horrific ordeal that snuffed out the life of a man who had survived the horror of the Vietnam war and being held a prisoner of war.
It was said that Hoa Pham survived the brutality of the Vietnam War, but could not survive the mean streets of Upper Darby.
It took more than a month, but police believe they now have the man responsible for the brutal attack that took Pham’s life.
And there’s a bonus.
Superintendent Michael Chitwood indicated Saturday that DNA evidence led them to a career criminal, Jermaine Burgess, 37. He was charged with murder and a slew of other offenses in the Upper Darby home invasion.
It turns out police were not done with Burgess. It is believed he has now been implicated in a second unsolved murder in Delaware County. Police and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office are expected to file new charges against Burgess in the murder of Marie Ott of Ridley Township. Ott was found in her Crum Creek Drive home back on Oct. 27 by a family member. She had been tied up and stabbed. She was found with a plastic bag over her head.
Upper Darby police say Burgess confessed to his role in the Ott slaying after being taken into custody in the Pham murder. Upper Darby then contacted Ridley police.
It’s expected Burgess will be arraigned on murder charges this morning.
Those mean streets of Delaware County just got a lot safer.
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