The arrestees are Nguyen Lam, 18, in Hoa Hiep Trung Ward, located in Phu Yen’s Dong Hoa Town, and Dang Phu Cong, 14, from Binh Ngoc Commune, situated in the provincial capital city of Tuy Hoa.

According to local police, Lam admitted he had asked Cong to come to his home to commit the murder on Monday morning.

When in Lam’s house, the 18-year-old stabbed his 54-year-old mother, Tran Thi Thu Lieu, several times when she was caught off guard.

Lam and Cong then strangled Lieu to death with a rope.

After killing Lieu, the two boys searched her body and stole VND3.2 million (US$138), a pair of earrings, and a cellphone before escaping the house.

It was not until Lam’s older brother, Nguyen Lai, came home on Monday afternoon that he found Lieu dead in the kitchen.

Informed of the case, police officers managed to identify Lam and Cong as the two suspects by 8:30 pm on the same day.

According to Lieu’s family members, they did not think the woman was in the kitchen, looking for her throughout the day, as Lam and Cong locked its door after killing Lieu.

The two boys are facing murder charges, according to police officers.

This article was originally published in Tuoitrenews