Mendota Heights Murder Case: Lucifer Nguyen Indicted

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN — Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom announced Friday that Lucifer Vincent Nguyen, 44, of New Hope has been indicted by a Dakota County grand jury in connection with the July 29 death of 48-year-old Beverly Cory of Maplewood. Cory was a financial adviser for Edward Jones and worked out of an office building in Mendota Heights.

The jury's indictment charges Nguyen with premeditated murder, aggravated robbery, and kidnapping. He was scheduled to make his court appearance Monday.

Nguyen was arrested following a three-day manhunt this summer that spanned the Twin Cities metro.

Find a summary of the allegations against Nguyen below:

On July 29 at 9 a.m., Mendota Heights police officers were dispatched on the report of a home invasion by a man armed with a pistol. The homeowner told police that the man, later identified as Lucifer Vincent Nguyen, entered the house through the master bedroom, pulled out a handgun and demanded cash, according to the complaint. Authorities say Nguyen took the money and fled.

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While responding to the reported home invasion, officers saw Nguyen's car on the road and tried to pull it over. Instead of complying, the driver fled police before crashing into a pond, according to the complaint. A witness told police they saw a man run from the scene of the crash.

Minutes later, officers were dispatched to a senior care facility near the crash site on a report of a man armed with a pistol who forced his way inside the building. One of the employees at the facility said Nguyen forced her into a laundry room and took her work keys, according to authorities.

While residents were being evacuated from the facility, officers received a report of blood seeping underneath a door in an adjacent office building. Tactical officers entered the building and found Beverly Cory dead on the floor. An autopsy of Cory determined that she died from a single gunshot wound to the head.

Police also discovered Cory’s car was missing from the building’s parking lot. Her car was located a day later at the Washington County fairgrounds, police said.

Nguyen was arrested Monday, July 31, in Blaine, the Pioneer Press reported.

"You couldn't find a nicer person than Beverly," Pat Ballard, one of Cory's clients, told KARE 11. "She's sweet and gentle and helpful."

Image via Dakota County Sheriff's Office