New details have emerged regarding Nelson Chia, 73, one of the suspects in the death of Lili Xu, the dentist who was shot outside a Little Saigon massage parlor in Oakland.
In an exclusive interview with ABC7, Chia’s estranged son, Byron, described his father as a manipulative man with sociopathic tendencies.
Referencing Chia’s August interview with ABC7 News anchor Dion Lim, Byron says that the tears Chia shed were inauthentic.
“That was one of his best manipulations. To put on those theatrics. When I watched that it reminded me of things he did his whole life, which is to manipulate people,” said Byron to ABC7.
On Friday, Oct. 28, Chia and alleged hitman 35-year-old Hasheem Bason was taken into custody for the alleged murder-for-hire plot to kill Xu. Chia died hours later by hanging himself at Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, according to reports by KTVU.
“I didn’t have any sadness or emotions over my father’s passing. For me, it’s like having a huge ominous monkey off my back,” Byron told ABC7. He added that he found out about Xu’s murder and Chia’s death through a high school friend he had not spoken to in years.
Byron said his childhood was tumultuous and filled with abuse, mainly from Chia.
“He had a lot of other companions. Female companions,” Byron said. He recounted to ABC7 a trip he took with his brother and father to Tahoe, where they were accompanied by a blonde woman who was not his mother.
Byron added that Chia is incapable of empathy, and his narcissism led their family to break apart. “He liked to see in movies or real life people or animals suffering,” Byron told ABC7.
CBS News reports that investigators believe Chia plotted to kill Xu and live off her estate, which has an estimated worth of at least $12 million. According to authorities, wiretap discussions between Chia and Bason revealed their roles in the murder-for-hire plot.
Bason appeared in court on Tuesday, Nov. 1. He was charged with murder under special circumstances of financial gain and lying in wait.
As of writing, Bason remains in jail and is being held without bail. He will enter a plea on his next court appearance on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
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