After ten years of waiting, justice has finally been served in one of Salt Lake City’s most shocking homicide cases. On Friday, Alexander Hung Tran was sentenced to three life terms without parole for the 2015 murders of Heike Poike, her 2-month-old granddaughter Lyrik Poike, and family friend Dakota Smith. The tragic killings took place inside a Rose Park home that Tran partially rented to the victims.
According to prosecutors, Poike, 50, lived in the upper portion of the house with her family, while Tran resided in the basement. The residence was owned by Tran’s mother. On the day of the murders, Smith went to check on the family after Poike failed to pick up her 8-year-old grandson from school. When she arrived, she noticed the car trunk was open and the back door ajar.
Police later discovered a horrifying scene. All three victims were found dead in the living room — Poike and her granddaughter hidden beneath a tarp, and Smith on the couch. Each had been shot multiple times. Investigators recovered 11 shell casings from a .22-caliber firearm upstairs.
When officers found Tran in the basement, he cooperated with authorities but made disturbing remarks. According to court testimony, Tran asked police, “If I think this is my mom’s fault and that she should be here instead, is there anything I can do?” He allegedly told detectives that his mother had been angry over unpaid bills and that he felt obligated to “do her right.”
Further evidence presented during the trial revealed a troubling pattern of obsession. Poike’s daughter, who had previously lived in the home with her two children, testified that Tran had developed an unhealthy fixation on her. He sent her messages professing his love and even expressed a desire to marry her. When she was later jailed, tensions inside the home grew, especially after Tran’s mother objected to the children staying there.
During sentencing, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill praised the decision, stating, “The judge’s ruling ensures the defendant will spend the rest of his life behind bars. We hope this brings some peace to the victims’ loved ones. These life sentences reflect the accountability our community expects when such a horrific act is committed in Salt Lake County.”
Tran’s sentencing marks the end of a painful chapter for the Poike and Smith families, who waited nearly a decade for justice. Authorities emphasized that while no sentence can undo the loss, this verdict stands as a reminder of the legal system’s commitment to protecting the innocent.
For further details on ongoing criminal proceedings in Utah, visit the Utah Courts official website.
