Fourth person charged in murder of Tommy Hoang

A fourth person has been arrested and charged with the murder of Tommy Hoang, who died after being confined, robbed and repeatedly stabbed at a former girlfriend's apartment in February.

Daniel Holland, 38, of Hamilton was initially arrested running from the crime scene at 646 Main St. E. when Hamilton police arrived late Feb. 10 after being called by a neighbour who heard a disturbance.

Holland was questioned and released that night. But on Tuesday, police arrested him again and he now faces a charge of first-degree murder.

He has three co-accused: Robyn Cove was arrested last month, and Madeleine Peternel and Jason Long were both arrested in February.

Another woman, Jamie Lee McMaster, is charged with accessory after the fact for her alleged role in helping Long evade arrest.

Police allege Holland misled" investigators about his role during that initial interview. At the time, he told police he arrived during the attack and tried to break it up.

But as police spoke with witnesses, reviewed video and received results of forensic evidence, that story was no longer believable, said Det. Sgt. Peter Thom, of the major crime unit.

We concluded that his initial statement was not completely truthful," he said.

It's not clear exactly what role each of the four allegedly played, but investigators believe all took part in the planned attack, Thom alleged.

Hoang was called to the apartment on Main, east of Sanford Avenue South, and arrived around 11 p.m. The ground-floor apartment unit is where Peternel - also known by the last name Divers - lived.

Peternel and Hoang had some sort of a relationship and it's not clear when or even if it had fully ended. In the week or so before the murder she also had some sort of relationship with Long, Thom said.

There did not appear to be any animosity between (Hoang and Peternel)," he said.

Police believe Peternel likely knew he had valuables and cash. Hoang was seen as a soft target" for robbery, Thom said.

Once Hoang was inside the door, police allege he was immediately confined, stabbed and robbed. Long and Peternel then allegedly took his keys and drove the victim's car to his apartment where a significant amount of cash and more jewelry was stolen. Detectives believe the cash may have been Hoang's savings for a down payment on a house.

Thom alleged that Holland arrived as the pair were leaving the Main Street East apartment. About seven or eight minutes elapsed while Cove and Holland were in the apartment with a badly injured Hoang, before police arrived.

Hoang died in hospital Feb. 27.

Police have recovered one of the stolen jewelry items that was a present for his daughter.

But other items remain outstanding, including a Rolex watch, a gold ring with ten rows of diamonds valued at about $5,000, and a gold necklace with a one-ounce rectangular pendant that has a Chinese horse engraving worth about $10,000.

Hoang was described by family as a big kid" and light" in the lives of his family. He was working for a plumbing business.

There are no other suspects in the case and no further charges are expected.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Daryl Reid at 905-546-3825. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com

Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com