Liquid Death // 115

35-year-old Ellie Mizon Tran was an immigrant from Vietnam who came to America in search of a new life and better opportunities. While establishing herself in the states, working two jobs at different nail salons in Virginia Beach, Ellie had endured one failed marriage. However, her second husband would turn out to be far worse than the first. On Valentine’s Day of 2017, the surveillance cameras Ellie Tran had just installed for the sole purpose of protecting herself against 29-year-old Joseph Merlino, captured video of a man running up from behind her in her driveway, while holding a syringe…

Written by Michael Dunphy Jr., Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. Special thanks to Sheriff Rocky Holcomb and Kathy Hieatt of the Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office. 

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Written/Audio Sources: 

1. Phi Tran talks about murdered sister Ellie Tran

2. Virginia Beach man charged with killing his estranged wife

3. “That man stuck something in my leg”: Virginia Beach woman died after she was poisoned, mother said

4. Valentine’s Day killer ambushed ex and injected her with cyanide - Mirror Online

5. Court Cam: Man Murders Ex-Girlfriend on Valentine's Day by Injecting Her with Cyanide | A&E 

6. Fatal attack video of man charged in girlfriend's cyanide poisoning

7. Autopsy confirms Virginia Beach woman attacked in her driveway died of cyanide poisoning

8. Video of fatal cyanide attack shown in Virginia Beach murder trial

9. Facebook: WTKR News 3

10. ‘Mommy is sleeping,’ family mourns victim of Valentine’s Day murder | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

11. Search warrants unsealed in Virginia Beach cyanide murder investigation

12. Drug that speeds body’s absorption of poison found in walls of Virginia Beach murder suspect’s business

13. Joey Merlino - Wikipedia

14. Virginia Beach man convicted of killing wife with cyanide is optimistic before sentencing

15. Virginia Beach murder suspect arrested in Lunenburg - Kenbridge Victoria Dispatch

16. Redmill Ct

17. Joseph Merlino in Virginia Beach, VA (age 36) 757-430-1004 | Latest Public Records

18. Ellie Tran Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

19. Arraignment date set for Virginia Beach man accused of murdering mother of his child on Valentine’s Day | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

20. Prosecutors: Woman killed on Valentine’s Day was injected with cyanide

21. Huế - Wikipedia

22. Motions denied for man accused of poisoning estranged wife | 13newsnow.com

23. Virginia Man Who Killed His Ex With Cyanide Shows Up To Court Foaming At The Mouth

24. VB woman killed on Valentine's Day had protective order

25. My boyfriend scared me’: Murdered mother filed assault charge against ex months before her death | Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

26. Google Maps: Virginia Beach

27. Prosecution: Man poisoned estranged wife with cyanide, had fiancee in China | 13newsnow.com

28. Man, 31, who killed his ex-girlfriend with cyanide wheeled into sentencing foaming at the mouth

29. Man convicted of killing woman ends 79-day hunger strike

30. Description of Each Execution Method | Death Penalty Information Center

31. It Took Virginia 400 Years to End the Death Penalty. It’s Not a Switch We Can Flip On and Off

32. Capital punishment in Virginia - Wikipedia

33. Virginia Beach man accused of injecting former girlfriend with cyanide now faces first-degree murder charge

34. Murder trial for Va. Beach man accused of injecting wife with cyanide begins

35. Jury convicts Joseph Merlino in cyanide murder of ex-girlfriend | 13newsnow.com

36. Virginia man found guilty of murdering ex-girlfriend with cyanide

37. MINI ITALIA NEW YORK PIZZERIA - CLOSED - 33 Photos & 90 Reviews - 665 Newtown Rd, Virginia Beach, Virginia - Pizza - Restaurant Reviews - Phone Number - Menu - Yelp

38. Man accused of poisoning ex-girlfriend was scheming behind bars | 13newsnow.com 

39. Computer expert testifies about cyanide searches on Virginia Beach murder suspect’s computer – The Virginian-Pilot

40. Joseph Merlino murder trial continues | 13newsnow

41. Jury recommends life in prison for man convicted of estranged wife’s 2017 Valentine’s Day murder

42. Medical use of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)

43. Ruddy Rose - Chair, Division of Clinical Toxicology - VCU Department of Emergency Medicine | LinkedIn

44. The Miracle Solvent | Science | AAAS

45. Virginia Beach man accused of injecting wife with cyanide found guilty

46. Family of murdered Mom pray for sister’s visa to come through in time for funeral

47. Joseph Merlino speaks out after conviction

48. Accused murderer on hunger strike to appears Virginia Beach court

49. Judge rules Virginia Beach man found guilty of poisoning wife with cyanide cannot be force-fed

50. Man sentenced to life for cyanide murder

51. Virginia Beach cyanide killer sentenced to life in prison

52. Judge delays Joseph Merlino's sentencing 

53. New information in cyanide murder case

54. GoFundMe: Ellie Tran

55. Joseph Merlino v. City of Virginia Beach; Inmate Locator — Virginia Department of Corrections

56. Former Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle celebrates retirement | 13newsnow.com

57.  Kathy Hieatt

58. D.C. sniper attacks - Wikipedia

59.  Muhammad sniper trial moved to Virginia Beach - Jul. 16, 2003 

Music & Sound Effect Sources

• Opening Track: “Alone” by BlueFoxMusic 

• Closing Track: “PHASES” by Nu Alkemi$t

Music & Sound Effect Sources

All music and sound effects used with express permission under unlimited blanket license authority from Epidemic Sound ® and SoundStripe ®.  Individual sources are available via request at info@invisiblechoir.com