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Employee saw
Sheraton chef
get stabbed

The suspect, a hotel cook,
was reported to be upset over
a change that was made
in his schedule

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By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

The fatal stabbing of Sheraton Hotel senior executive sous chef Thomas Matsuda was witnessed by another employee, according to court documents released today.

The suspect, Tam Van Huynh, 39, made an appearance today in District Court after he was charged with second-degree murder over the weekend in the Friday stabbing.

Huynh was employed as a cook at the hotel.

Marsha Southworth, an administrative coordinator, was in the executive chef office at the Sheraton-Waikiki with Matsuda when Huynh entered the office. Southworth told police she saw Huynh lunge at Matsuda and stab him with a large kitchen knife using his left hand.

Just minutes earlier, Matsuda had informed Huynh of a schedule change, which appeared to upset him and apparently led to the stabbing, according to a police affidavit.

Co-workers saw Huynh leaving the office immediately after the 9:15 a.m. stabbing. Hotel security detained Huynh for police. Huynh had what appeared to be blood on his white jacket, white apron and his pants.

Matsuda, 49, who had worked at Sheraton for 22 years, was pronounced dead at Queen's Medical Center shortly after 10 a.m. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii has established a memorial fund to benefit Matsuda's family.

He is survived by his wife, Colleen, and three children.

Donations to the "Thomas Matsuda Memorial Fund" will be accepted at Bank of Hawaii branches or can be mailed to Bank of Hawaii, P.O. Box 2900, Honolulu, 98626.