Tou Ger Xiong.Photo:Tou Ger Xiong/Facebook
Tou Ger Xiong/Facebook
Four suspects have been charged in connection with the disappearance and death of aMinnesota comedian and activistwho went missing while visiting Colombia last month.
Last week, two men and one woman were arrested on charges of aggravated kidnapping for extortion and aggravated homicide in the death of Tou Ger Xiong, 50, whose body was found on Dec. 11, prosecutors told theAssociated Press,Fox 9and Colombian newspaperEl Colombiano.
The suspects have reportedly denied the charges. A teenage boy was also charged in the case and sent to a detention center for minors.
Xiong, a well-known activist in the Twin Cities Hmong American community, was kidnapped on Dec. 10 in Medellín after going on a date with a woman he met on social media, El Colombiano reported, citing local authorities.
According toEl Colombiano, officials said Xiong’s body was found the next day in a ravine with stab wounds and blunt force trauma. The paper also reported that he had been in the South American country since Nov. 29.
That day, Eh Xiong, Tou Ger’s brother, told several outlets, includingKARE 11, that he got a call from his brother asking for $2,000, which the alleged kidnappers wanted as ransom. Eh toldKSTPthat he didn’t know if his brother ever got the money.
“It is with immense sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the discovery of the body of our beloved family member, Tou Ger Xiong, who had been the victim of a kidnapping and murder,” his family said in astatementreleased last month. “This has been an incredibly challenging time for our family and we appreciate the support and understanding of our community during this difficult period.”
Sahan Journalreported that Xiong was born in Laos and lived in a refugee camp in Thailand before moving with his family to St. Paul as a child.
“Tou Ger was a tireless advocate for those without a voice, a powerful storyteller for the Hmong American community, and a champion for building understanding between people of different cultures and backgrounds,” theCouncil on Asian Pacific Minnesotanssaid in a December statement. “We cannot fully express our shock and profound sadness at the news that he is now gone.”
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Xiong’s family has set up anendowment fundin his name.
“U.S. Embassy Bogota is aware of eight suspicious deaths of private U.S. citizens in Medellín between November 1 and December 31, 2023,” a Jan. 10press releasestates. “The deaths appear to involve either involuntary drugging overdose or are suspected homicides. At this time, it is not believed these deaths are linked as each involved distinct circumstances, however several of the deaths point to possible drugging, robbery, and overdose, and several involve the use of online dating applications.”
The U.S. Embassy said criminals are using dating apps to “lure victims” to meet in public places such as “hotels, restaurants, and bars, and then later assault and rob them.”
“U.S. citizens should be vigilant, maintain heightened situational awareness, and incorporate strong personal security practices into their activities,” the release stated.
source: people.com
