White Center community mourns the loss of a beloved landlord allegedly murdered over rent
Oct 30, 2024, 6:06 AM
A King County Sheriff's Office vehicle. (Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff's Office)
(Photo courtesy of King County Sheriff's Office)
People in the White Center community are mourning the loss of a beloved landlord allegedly murdered by her own tenant.
According to court documents obtained by KIRO 7, the victim, Ut Thi Bui, 73, was the property owner who rented a room to the suspect, Sofia Fishchuk, 19, for about a year.
Around 7:15 p.m. on Friday, King County deputies answered calls about a homicide at an apartment building in the 9800 block of 15th Avenue Southwest in the White Center area of Unincorporated King County.
“It was someone right up under her the whole entire time, someone she was helping out,” tenant William Boone said.
Boone told KIRO 7 he had rented a room from Bui for several years. He described her as more than a landlord.
“She was like my mother. She cared and loved hard,” Boone explained. “She would take my kids to dinner, birthdays, give them money. My kids are just distraught. That’s how much of an impression she leaves on people. Ut was a loving person.”
According to the first appearance documents, Fishchuk had been behind on rent. When confronted by Bui, Fishchuk struck her back and stabbed her twice. After nearly 50 minutes, Fishchuk called her sister to tell her what she had done. The suspect’s brother-in-law called 911 and said “she had killed someone” after Fishchuk showed her sister the Bui’s body through a video phone call.
Boone told KIRO 7 that Fishchuk had ranted about wanting to hurt Bui about the rent dispute before.
Those who knew Bui couldn’t believe something so violent could happen to a gentle soul.
“She was the epitome of just a really sweet older Asian lady,” business tenant Carol Mangabat said. “She reminds me of someone’s grandma very tiny hard-working, really nice lady.”
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Mangabat rented a space from Bui for two years. She said it’s going to be tough moving forward knowing she’s gone.
“She worked hard for her family,” she added. “She always talked about her, her kids, and doing well for her grandkids, and it’s tragic.”
Fishchuk has been booked into King County Jail on second-degree murder charges.
