Landlord accused of killing tenant attempts to rent out the murder scene
A San Francisco landlord charged with murdering his tenant is seeking to lease the victim's home despite a court order barring its sale.
Authorities accuse retired dentist Philippe Chagniot of luring his tenant, Eric Bigone, to the driveway of a San Francisco home and shooting him twice with a silenced Mac-10. The incident, which occurred in mid-May, was followed by Chagniot spray-painting surveillance cameras and igniting a fire on Bigone’s vehicle before fleeing on a bicycle. A wrongful-death suit filed by Bigone’s son, Dino Bigone, claims the murder was intended to clear the property for sale.
While a court has blocked the Chagniot family from selling the house, it has permitted the property to be rented, and a listing now offers the 1,200-square-foot, three-bedroom home for $6,300 a month. The residence is held by the Chagniot 2007 Family Trust, which includes Philippe and his wife. Prospective renters have expressed unease after seeing news reports about the killing linked to the listing.
Why it matters
The case highlights legal limits on profiting from property tied to a violent crime and raises safety concerns for prospective renters.
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