Alameda County will pay $36 million to the surviving family of a married couple murdered in 2022 by a sheriff’s deputy who was hired despite failing a basic psychological exam.

The family of victims Maria and Benison Tran, including their son — who was a teen at the time of their murders — sued the county and the Sheriff’s Office in 2023 for wrongful death and negligence, among other things.

Continue reading for free

Sign in to read this story and receive the weekly roundup in your inbox.

Or

Terms & Conditions

Success! Your account was created and you’re signed in.
Please visit My Account to manage your account.

Kiley Russell writes primarily for Local News Matters on issues related to equity and the environment. A Bay Area native, he has lived most of his life in Oakland. He studied journalism at San Francisco State University, worked for the Associated Press and the former Contra Costa Times, among other outlets. He has covered everything from state legislatures, local governments, federal and state courts, crime, growth and development, political campaigns of various stripes, wildfires and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.