In the early evening of October 9, 2012 a maintenance worker discovered an eight-year-old boy alone inside an apartment at 1400 N. Alma School Rd. The child was stripped naked and locked inside a bathroom where he stuffed his clothes into the toilet, causing a flood inside the apartment. The maintenance worker contacted the Chandler Police after discovering the severely disabled boy.
Initially, officers were unable to locate the child’s parents. Later in the evening, 35-year-old Vu Quang Tran and 34-year-old Siobhan Grogan arrived at the Chandler Police Department looking to deliver clothing and food for their child. After determining Mr. Tran and Ms. Grogan were the parents of the abandoned eight-year-old, the two were placed under arrest for child neglect.
Investigators learned the couple has left their son alone on several occasions in the past. After “testing” the child to see if he would harm himself while locked in the bathroom, Mr. Tran and Ms. Grogan eventually started the practice of locking their son in the bathroom so they could “lead a normal life” with their five-year-old daughter. The couple prefers this remedy over public or private assistance, which they have not utilized for his care.
Detectives from the Family Crimes Unit are seeking the public’s assistance with this investigation. If you recognize or are acquainted with Mr. Tran or Ms. Grogan, please contact the Chandler Police Department at (480) 782-4130. Reference police report number 12-103958.
For more information, please contact Detective Seth Tyler at (480) 782-4105.
