Shivangi Sinha
The Han family murders occurred in March 2016, when Dr. Henry Han, his wife Jennie Yu, and their 5-year-old daughter Emily were found shot inside their Goleta, California home. One of the key pieces of evidence against the suspect, Pierre Haobsh, was the testimony of Thomas Direda, believed to be Haobsh’s acquaintance. Direda claimed that Haobsh had confessed to the murders to him and sought help in disposing of the bodies. CBS’ ‘48 Hours: The Han Family Murders’ presents a detailed timeline illustrating how Direda became entangled in the case and the role his account played in Haobsh’s conviction.
TJ Direda Received Several Texts From Pierre Haobsh After the Triple Homicide
Thomas “TJ” Direda had long been a resident of Thousand Oaks, California, and had made his own path in life. Some reports suggest he was involved in the marijuana and pornography businesses, though these claims have never been confirmed. He had reportedly been friends with Dr. Henry Han for years and was alleged to have grown marijuana for him, but this too remains unverified. Direda was also said to be acquainted with individuals connected to Molecular Scientific LLC, a business venture started by Dr. Han. According to his account, on March 23, 2016, he received a message from Pierre Haobsh around 9:30 am asking for help.
Direda stated that he initially had no idea what was happening and chose not to respond, but about an hour later, Haobsh showed up at his house. According to him, Haobsh confessed to killing Dr. Henry Han, his wife Jennie Yu, and their 5-year-old daughter Emily, admitting that he had done it for the $20 million in the bank account. Direda told law enforcement that at first, he didn’t take the confession seriously and was also afraid for his own safety, so he did not contact the police right away.
Around 5 pm, he received another text from Haobsh, asking him to go to Las Vegas with him and offering to cover the trip expenses. When Haobsh later saw law enforcement at the doctor’s home, he sent another text that read, “Yep. Am screwed. They just found everything. My lives [sic] over. Only if I got it all sooner, like this morning.” On March 25, Direda’s mother informed him that Haobsh had been arrested in connection with the case, and that’s when he contacted law enforcement. He recounted the confession, which became a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation.
TJ Direda Prefers to Stay Out of the Limelight Today
In November 2021, TJ Direda took the stand and was questioned by both the prosecution and the defense. When the prosecution objected to the defense’s line of questioning regarding his alleged involvement in the pornography industry, the defense argued that it was relevant to dispel any suggestion of organized crime involvement in the murders. Direda testified about Haobsh’s confession, and his statements became one of the key pieces of evidence that contributed to Haobsh’s conviction. According to reports, Direda was once active on social media, where his long-standing friendship with Dr. Han was evident; however, he has since deleted his accounts and now maintains a low profile.
Read More: Where is Pierre Haobsh Now?
