San Francisco prosectors have revealed a surprising homicide plot allegedly hatched by a rich landlord decided to eliminate his longtime tenant — by any means obligatory.
Retired dentist Phillippe Chagniot, who ran his household’s rental property within the sleepy Sundown seashore neighborhood of San Francisco, was allegedly determined to promote the $1.3 million single-family house and resorted to horrifying measures to get the property vacant, allegedly orchestrating an elaborate ambush plot earlier than earlier than murdering his 58-year-old tenant, Eric Bigone, in chilly blood in an early-morning execution.
A neighborhood supply informed The Submit that Bigone and Chagniot had “beefed” in current months over a possible buyout package deal — as native tenants’ legal guidelines require landlords to supply cash to tenants, typically totaling tens of hundreds of {dollars}, in lots of eviction circumstances.
Bigone reportedly “knew his rights” and had lawyered as much as hash out an exit package deal.
Data present the 944-square-foot house, owned by a belief tied to Chagniot’s spouse, skyrocketed in worth to $1.3 million within the red-hot San Francisco actual property market, the place tiny properties within the residential seashore often promote for nicely over $1 million.
Rental filings with town present a property matching the house’s description fetching greater than $3250 in month-to-month hire for the comfortable house.
Chagniot — a well-known identify in the neighborhood who attended College of San Francisco and despatched youngsters to unique St. Ignatius School Prep — had reportedly “misplaced it” over his spouse’s most cancers analysis earlier than allegedly donning a masks to homicide his tenant simply after 5 AM on Could 17.
The unhinged ex-dentist then allegedly donned “darkish clothes and a masks” and spray-painted varied surveillance cameras within the space to attempt to evade detection, prosecutors mentioned, earlier than approaching the residence at 2518 forty sixth Ave.
Chagniot allegedly lit a hearth “on prime of a automobile” in entrance of Bigone’s house as he was preparing for his job on the Public Utilities Fee, the place he earned roughly $130,000 per yr as a common laborer, in an try to lure him outdoors.
Chagniot then “hid off to the aspect,” per prosecutors, earlier than capturing Bigone at the back of the top with a “silenced and absolutely computerized Mac-10” gun.
He then “casually” biked away, in keeping with the San Francisco District Legal professional’s Workplace.
Chagniot was nabbed within the alleged homicide with the assistance of Flock Security cameras within the space, which cops used to establish his bicycle and automobile and monitor his actions.
Surveillance photographs obtained by The Submit present a suppose determine in disguise stalking the quiet avenue with an extended gun.
Curiously, Chagniot was concerned in a separate homicide case in 2006 that resulted within the conviction of Joseph Cua, a San Mateo Man, within the homicide of an aged couple whose property he managed. Cua, who has maintained his innocence, claimed in a California Court docket of Attraction petition that Chagniot supplied false testimony through the trial.
Bigone, a neighborhood fixture who grew up within the space, had reportedly “turned his life round” after stepping into bother as a youthful man as soon as serving jail time in a 2004 DUI vehicular manslaughter case.
His devastated household and pals have shared tributes to Bigone.
“He was such a giving particular person. Even once I was sick, he got here to my home each single weekend — typically spending the evening simply to ensure I used to be okay,” Bigone’s mom mentioned at a recent memorial led by the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
“He was an exquisite father and an exquisite grandfather. He beloved his household deeply, and so they beloved him.”
Chagniot is dealing with homicide, laying in wait, arson, and gun expenses.
