Judge sets accused drug dealer’s bail in connection with Olympia 16-year-old’s fatal overdose
A suspected drug dealer is being held in the Thurston County jail in lieu of $200,000 bail in connection with the overdose death of a 16-year-old who formerly attended Olympia High School.
Son Thien Nguyen, a 33-year-old Olympia resident, attended his preliminary appearance in Thurston County Superior Court on Tuesday. Olympia police arrested him Monday at his home near Olympia.
Police allege Nguyen sold fentanyl-laced “molly,” also known as ecstasy, to the teen outside his home on Dec. 19, according to court records. First responders transported the teen to an area hospital and he died from an overdose later that evening.
In the ensuing investigation, witnesses told detectives that Nguyen sold drugs to Olympia High School students using the pseudonym “Travis.” Detectives searched his home, which is less than a mile north of North Thurston High School, on Jan. 6 and recovered a large trove of drugs and firearms, according to court records.
It’s unclear if Nguyen sold drugs to students of other schools or had a wider clientele.
The teen was last enrolled in Olympia High School during the 2023-2024 school year, according to Conor Schober, Director of Communications and Community Relations for Olympia School District. He was not a current student at the time of his death.
Schober said Olympia High School is currently reviewing security and supervision protocols before and after school, as well as during passing times. School staff also are checking in with students who may have known the teen, and speaking with students who say they might have more information.
The Olympia School District already has a tip reporting system, called VectorAlert, where students can anonymously share any potential concerns. Schober said the school regularly checks this system.
“We understand that every student processes a crisis differently, and our parents/guardians know their children best,” Schober said. “That being said, the loss of a former classmate and friend may be particularly challenging for some students.”
To support students, Schober said the district has created a support document with resources to help high school students process grief and loss. He added the district has counseling services available to any Olympia High School student in need.
When asked if the district was working with law enforcement, Schober said the district would not comment on an open investigation.
What happened in court?
Judge Allyson Zipp found probable cause for controlled substance homicide and set the bail amount on Tuesday. In doing so, she determined the court could not be assured Nguyen would reappear when required, and there was a substantial danger he may commit a violent crime or interfere with the case.
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Randy Trick asked Zipp to set bail at $200,000, citing Nguyen’s criminal record and the seriousness of the allegation.
“Controlled substance homicide is not a violent offense in the sense that Mr. Nguyen did an act of violence to cause a death,” Trick said. “Nonetheless, a person is alleged to have died due to his actions.”
Aaron Ping, who identified himself as the teen’s father, spoke at the hearing. Ping told Zipp $200,000 sounded too low to him.
“I hope the court will see this as an opportunity to send a strong message to protect other families in our community from the devastating impact of drug dealers who target our youth,” Ping said.
Public defense attorney Diana Wildland asked Zipp to set Nguyen’s bail at $25,000 based on his finances and the number of dependents that he has.
“We’re going to be requesting that the court permit my client to have a lower bail than a $200,000 request,” Wildland said. “That is a substantial amount for my client when he is declared indigent.”
Wildland said Nguyen has lived in Washington for six years and lives in Olympia with his wife, 4-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old brother.
In addition to setting bail, Zipp barred Nguyen from contacting minors outside his family and any witnesses identified through the discovery process, including the teen’s family and any students at Olympia High School.
Zipp also ordered Nguyen to not use social media apps. That includes Snapchat, which he allegedly used to communicate with his customers.
Additionally, Nguyen was ordered to not leave the state, break the law, possess dangerous weapons or firearms or possess or consume any controlled substances without a lawful prescription.
Lastly, Zipp said he cannot contact any known illegal drug users, dealers or manufacturers.
Nguyen’s criminal history dates back to 2009 and includes convictions in Collin County, Texas, as well as Thurston County. Most recently, he was convicted of fourth-degree assault in Thurston County in 2021.
The investigation
A probable cause statement signed by Trick describes the investigation into the teen’s death from the perspective of law enforcement.
Hospital staff told the teen’s mother that he had a lethal dose of fentanyl in his system at the time of his death on Dec. 19.
A witness later told the mother that the teen bought “molly” from a local drug dealer. The mother relayed that information to detectives and shared home video footage of the transaction.
The footage showed a silver Toyota Prius arrive in front of the home address at about 2:53 p.m. The teen reportedly walks up to the Prius for the exchange and then the vehicle leaves.
Later that evening, the teen appears on camera walking with two other juvenile males. The statement indicates the teen appeared impaired.
The Olympia Fire Department arrived on scene at about 10:38 p.m. after a 911 call was made just seven minutes earlier.
The witness told the mother that the driver of the Prius typically arranged deals via Snapchat using the name “Travis,” and “deals to all Olympia High School students” with the same Snapchat profile, according to the statement.
The teen’s mother later connected “Travis” to Nguyen after reviewing her CashApp account. The app, which is used to make payments between people, notified her about several blocked payment transactions from her deceased son to Nguyen.
The transactions occurred on Dec. 19 at 2:54 p.m. which is around the same time the transaction was captured on video.
On Dec. 31, officers contacted one of the teen’s friends who was with the teen on Dec. 19. The friend told police that he had communicated with “Travis” on Snapchat multiple times and so had some of his friends.
The teen’s phone contained text messages with a “travisolympia” that were dated Dec. 19. In the messages, the teen asked for “molly” and “travisolympia” replied “Ya $80 a g.”
The exchange was scheduled for the afternoon and the two of them discussed payment troubles that were consistent with the CashApp notification the teen’s mother received.
Olympia police connected with the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force and learned they were already investigating Nguyen’s Snapchat account “travisolympia.”
Based on the investigation, an Olympia police detective obtained a search warrant for Nguyen’s home as well as two of his registered vehicles, a silver Toyota Prius and a black Ford Escape.
Detectives served the search warrant and arrested Nguyen on Jan. 6. At the time of his arrest, Nguyen was driving the Escape with his wife and daughter in the vehicle.
Inside the vehicle, detectives found handgun magazines in a bag on the driver side floorboard and a firearm in the center console of the vehicle.
Nguyen’s wife told investigators the gun belonged to her and showed them a concealed pistol license. She said she owned three firearms; however, the statement says she struggled to describe them.
Within the home, officers recovered multiple firearms, vape pens, boxes of unidentified pills, THC gummies, drug related candy, marijuana, mushrooms, pills, a punk crystalline substance and ammunition.
“So much evidence was seized that officers had to use numerous vehicles to transport it to the police station,” the statement reads.
The firearms reportedly matched images of firearms that Nguyen had shared on his Snapchat account, including a Palmetto State PA-15 rifle and a Remington Gamemaster 760 rifle.
Based on what they found, detectives believe Nguyen actually possessed and had control over the firearms.
Following his arrest, police transported Nguyen to the Olympia Police Department for an interview. Nguyen cooperated and “opened up” about his struggles with a meth addiction, according to the statement.
He told police he had overdosed before because the meth he used was laced with fentanyl. He said drugs couldn’t be trusted because you could never know what was in them.
A detective read Nguyen his Miranda rights and he invoked them. Police searched him and found $1,200 in his wallet, which was seized as evidence.
Nguyen is due back in court on Jan. 21 for his arraignment hearing.
Correction: The 16-year-old who died on Dec. 19 last attended Olympia High School during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the Olympia School District. He was not a current student at the time of his death.
This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
