Coroner's Finding: Nguyen, Van Tam

47y · Male·self-inflicted stab wound to the chest with penetration of the left ventricle of the heart

A 47-year-old man serving his sentence on home detention died from a self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. He had a history of heroin and methamphetamine use and was receiving methadone maintenance and mirtazapine while in custody. In early December, following a bee sting, he reported fatigue, insomnia, and visual hallucinations. He attended a Community Corrections appointment on 13 December appearing well with no mental health concerns identified. He died on 14 December 2022. The coroner found no failures in Community Corrections supervision, noting he presented no outward mental health issues and had made future plans. The death was determined to be self-inflicted despite initial paramedic reports suggesting otherwise, which were attributed to family distress and misinterpretation. No clinical interventions or escalations were identified as having been inappropriately withheld.