Man Arrested in Death of Girlfriend’s Child

Police have arrested Westminster resident James Hwe on suspicion of murdering his girlfriend’s daughter two years ago.

Two-year-old Alethea Ta was brought to Fountain Valley Regional Medical Center on July 22, 1998, with severe head injuries by Hwe, 26, and the child’s mother, Kim Hoang, 22.

Hwe, who was baby-sitting the youngster while her mother was at work, said that Alethea had slipped and knocked her head on the driveway at the Hoangs’ then-residence in the 8400 block of Emerado.

The child died a week later. Physicians notified police because the injuries were consistent with “blunt force trauma,” authorities said.

“The injuries she had did not occur from a fall,” said Richard Mize, a Westminster Police Department detective. “We found a lot of inconsistencies with his statements and the type of injuries she had. And she had signs of previous abuse.”

Detectives interviewed Hoang and Hwe, but no arrests were made. The investigation continued, however, and on Oct. 16, the district attorney’s office filed a complaint, charging Hwe in the child’s death. Police would not reveal what evidence led them to arrest Hwe.

Detectives arrested Hwe as he left Hoang’s Tustin apartment Tuesday. He was booked at Orange County Jail, with bail set at $250,000. He is expected to be arraigned today at the West Justice Center in Westminster.