Aloni Truong
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CANDID ID: DE_24_2073
AGE
3   years
STATE
Delaware
DATE OF DEATH
6/5/2024
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On June 5, 2024, during the early morning hours, 3-year-old Aloni Truong and 31-year-old Mercedes Ortiz were killed in their home on Pebblebrook Drive in the Brookstone Trace development in Milford, Delaware. Police were first alerted when a 31-year-old man was found bleeding from his head on S. DuPont Blvd around 4:45 AM; through the investigation, officers then responded to the home where they found the woman and child dead. Davis Truong, 31, was charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. Nest doorbell camera footage showed Truong banging on a neighbor's door covered in blood around 4:30 AM.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The child was killed in a double homicide. The WBOC article states Davis Truong was charged with "two counts of first degree murder and two counts possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony," indicating a weapon was used to inflict fatal injuries on both victims. While the specific injury mechanism is not described, the use of a deadly weapon in the commission of murder implies inflicted injury.

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

The suspect is identified as Davis Truong, 31, and the child victim is Aloni Truong. The shared surname strongly implies a paternal relationship. The WBOC article identifies the woman killed, Mercedes Ortiz, separately, and a neighbor refers to the victims as "a mother and a child." This indicates Mercedes Ortiz was the mother, while Davis Truong, sharing the child's last name, is implied to be the biological father.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

The WBOC article states: "Milford Police identified a suspect in the double homicide as Davis Truong, 31, of Milford. Truong has been charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony." His bail was set at $2,200,000 cash bail only.

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

While the term "domestic violence" is not explicitly used, the circumstances described constitute domestic violence: Davis Truong, who appears to be the biological father of the child (shared surname), killed 31-year-old Mercedes Ortiz (referred to as the child's mother by a neighbor who said "For something like that to happen with a mother and a child, that is sad and scary") and their 3-year-old daughter Aloni Truong in their home on Pebblebrook Drive. The killing of an intimate partner and child in a domestic setting is inherently domestic violence.

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

The WBOC article notes that "A neighbor provided WBOC with Nest doorbell camera footage of Truong banging on their front door, covered in blood around 4:30 Wednesday morning." Additionally, the suspect was found at a separate location (500 block of S. DuPont Blvd) bleeding from his head with non-life-threatening injuries, creating two distinct crime scenes. The charges include "possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony," indicating a weapon was involved, though the type of weapon is never identified in any of the documents. The suspect's bail was set at $2,200,000 cash only.

Lives Cut Short