Bridget Nicole Compton, a 51-year-old employee at Norristown State Hospital, has been accused of stealing over $130,000 from a female patient, Trinh T. Nguyen, who is currently serving two consecutive life sentences for the brutal murders of her two sons. Compton, who worked with the Department of Public Welfare, allegedly diverted funds from Nguyen’s account over the course of two months, cashing five checks totaling $132,480.01. The theft occurred without Nguyen’s knowledge or consent, and Compton is facing charges of device fraud, identity theft, and forgery, among other offenses.
Nguyen, who was found guilty of killing her children, 13-year-old Jeffrey Tini and 9-year-old Nelson Tini, had been sent to Norristown State Hospital after being deemed incompetent to stand trial for the murders. Her actions, which involved shooting both children in the head while they slept, were premeditated, as evidenced by a handwritten will that she had written in the days leading up to the murders. This document outlined her violent plans and the handling of her children’s remains. She also left a chilling note in her vehicle, which authorities discovered when they found her after the killings. The note read, “Please call 911! My children are dead in their bed.”
Compton’s involvement with Nguyen began when she was assigned to assist the patient with managing her financial affairs. Nguyen had requested Compton’s help with changing the address on her account to continue receiving mail, but Compton took advantage of the situation by transferring funds without authorization. Investigators discovered that Compton had impersonated Nguyen during phone calls to the financial institution, authorizing the checks to be sent to an address associated with Compton’s mother. From there, Compton would retrieve the checks and cash them at a check-cashing business in Philadelphia.
When questioned by authorities, Compton admitted to her actions and confessed that she had already spent the stolen funds. Much of the money was used for a family vacation to Puerto Rico in July 2023, with Compton also gifting $10,000 to her mother. She allegedly told police that she was “broke by Christmas,” implying that the money had been quickly depleted. Compton was arrested in December 2024 and released on a $100,000 unsecured bond.
Nguyen’s case is one of tragic violence and disturbing premeditation. The murder of her children was not a spur-of-the-moment act, but a calculated decision driven by deep anger and resentment. The manifesto she wrote, which laid out her plans and the reasons behind her violent actions, revealed the extent of her rage and the lengths she went to in order to carry out her crimes. The investigation into her murders revealed a chilling level of preparation, as she had planned for the aftermath, even including instructions on how to deal with her children’s bodies.
Compton’s theft of the funds from Nguyen adds another layer of tragedy to an already horrifying story. While Nguyen’s crimes are the focal point of the case, Compton’s betrayal of trust and exploitation of a vulnerable patient highlights the potential for abuse within institutional settings. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of oversight and accountability in environments where vulnerable individuals are placed in the care of others.
