Prosecutors seeking death penalty against Dothan man accused of killing, sodomizing teen with yoga pole

DOTHAN, Ala (WDHN) — A Dothan man who police claim sodomized and killed his ex-girlfriend’s teen daughter could be put to death if he is found guilty during his eventual trial.

District Attorney Russ Goodman revealed to WDHN that prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Minh Thanh Nguyen.

Nguyen was arrested just days before Christmas 2023 and charged with the murder of 17-year-old Duong Thi Thuy Troung.

Troung was found by her mother and sister earlier that month, lying face up on her bed in her Hartford Highway home, severely injured. She died after being rushed to a Dothan hospital.

According to an autopsy report, Truong had been strangled and sodomized by a two-foot-long yoga pole. The report shows she also had bruising on her throat, arms, and face.

Dothan Police investigators said Nguyen and Truong’s mother had previously been in a relationship and lived in Mississippi before moving to Dothan. The couple later broke up, allegedly because Truong and her two sisters disliked Nguyen.

Dothan Police claim that on the day of the murder, Nguyen was seen on camera leaving M3 Nails in Dothan, his place of work, and was seen walking towards Truong’s home in the 100 block of Sedona Lane. The house is less than 600 feet from the salon.

In late 2024, Nguyen pleaded not guilty to his charges, claiming he had a mental disease or defect.

A trial date has not been set.