This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Alexander Hung Tran was diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic a few months before he allegedly shot and killed three people in his Salt Lake City home in September.
Tran, 32, was admitted to the University Neuropsychiatric Institute (UNI) on June 7 and released one month later, according to a search warrant released on Wednesday. His mother said that he was diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and was prescribed several medications, the warrant adds.
On Sept. 18, Tran allegedly shot and killed Heidi Poike, 50, her 2-month-old granddaughter, Lyrik Poike, and 28-year-old Dakota Smith. The three were tenants of Tran's home on the 600 North block of Sir Phillip Drive.
While searching the home, officers found a bottle of one of the medications, Risperidone.
"It is relevant in this case to know whether or not Tran was taking psychotic drugs before his UNI admission and if he was indeed prescribed the [drugs] as stated by his mother," the warrant reads. Investigators also wanted to know whether Tran refilled the prescriptions, when and in what dosage, and have asked the state for those records.
Tran is charged in 3rd District Court with three counts of aggravated murder, which carries the possibility of the death penalty.
The Poikes' and Smith's deaths came to light after Poike did not show up to pick up her grandson from school.
When police went to the boy's house, an officer saw a body under a tarp through the living room window, according to Tran's charges.
Officers entered through an open back door and located Tran in the basement. He allegedly told officers, "I'm putting down the gun," and was arrested.
Prosecutors say Tran acknowledged the shootings when officers found him, but that he tried to say his mother was at fault because she owns the house and had asked for the tenants to leave.
Prosecutors say Tran's mother knew nothing of the slaying until later.
Tran is being held in the Salt Lake County Jail in lieu of $3 million cash-only bail.
His next court date is a scheduling hearing on Jan. 25.
Twitter: @MikeyPanda