One year after a Cornelius mother and her three young children were found dead inside their home, the neighborhood is still waiting for answers that have yet to come. On April 8, 2025, a caller discovered the bodies of 37-year-old Hong Phuong Le and her children — 7-year-old Thanh Tien Dam, 5-year-old Ha Ngan Dam and 2-year-old Viena Mai Dam — and, despite the passage of time, authorities have released few new public details.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office says detectives with its Violent Crimes Unit are still leading the probe and that public information will remain limited while the investigation is active. According to the Washington County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded at about 3:03 p.m. to a home near the 300 block of North 15th Avenue after a 911 caller reported finding multiple people dead; an April 2025 report from Hoodline covered the initial response.
Why Investigators Say They're Still Waiting
Detectives say they are still waiting on key forensic results before they can say more publicly. Deputy David Huey told OregonLive in an email that "we are still waiting on some results from the crime lab."
The delay tracks with broader capacity and backlog problems at the Oregon State Police crime lab that have slowed evidence processing statewide, as documented by Governing. Local reporting has also noted that officials have not released a cause of death and that no arrests have been announced; Hillsboro News Times has covered the lack of public updates.
Neighbors Remember the Family
Neighbors told local reporters that the home had recently been damaged by a fire that left scorch marks on the front door and that a tarp covered part of the roof. FOX 12 and other outlets reported that the two older children attended Cornelius Elementary and that the Forest Grove School District offered grief and counseling resources to students and staff.
How to Help
Washington County detectives continue to ask anyone with information to contact the investigations division and reference case number 50-25-4892. The sheriff's office says there is no indication of an ongoing threat to neighbors.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office has reiterated its request for tips and says it will share updates if and when forensic results are completed.
