Brian Tzeo has been allowed to fly to northern California to attend his family's funeral. He has admitted his involvement in a drug trafficking ring that led to the murder of his family to the media and to law enforcement, but he has not been charged or arrested.
Capt. Roy Brown of the Catawba County Sheriff Office said, "We don't have enough information to arrest him."
"What we have is basically circumstantial evidence," said Sheriff David Huffman. He explained that, although Tzeo has admitted his involvement in drugs, "There was nothing in the house to indicate he was in the narcotics trade."
Whatever material evidence that could have been used to pursue a case against him was stolen by Chiew Chan Saevang on March 12 — the day Saevang murdered Tzeo's wife and children, Huffman said.
"How can we punish him more than he's already been punished?" asked Brown.
Huffman said he does not believe Tzeo presents a flight risk and added that Tzeo has voluntarily surrendered his passport and travel documents to authorities.
He also has has agreed to call the Catawba County Sheriff's Office when he arrives in California, when he departs and when he arrives back in Catawba County.
Huffman said Tzeo's sister flew in from California to escort him to and from the funeral. "We have his word and the word of his family that he will come back, and we feel like he will keep his word," Huffman said.
Huffman said his office has been in touch with California authorities and informed them of the murders and the deaths of the suspects and the funeral plans for Tzeo's family.
Asked if he feels Tzeo's life or the lives of his remaining family members are in danger, Huffman reiterated that California authorities have been apprised of the situation and will take whatever precautions are necessary to protect Tzeo and his family.
Jenkins Funeral Home owner Carl Jenkins said the bodies of Tzeo's wife, Lisa Phan and son, Cody, were flown to California on Thursday and the remains of his daughters, Melanie and Pauline, will be transported today.
The four family members will be buried at Rolling Hills Memorial Park in El Sobrante, near San Francisco.
Tzeo will pray for his family for two days in accordance with Buddhist customs before returning to Catawba County around the middle of next week, Brown said.
Brown said he believes Tzeo will continue to help local authorities in their investigation.
"I think he's going to help law enforcement get to the bottom of this trade because he blames himself and the trade for what happened," Brown said.
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