Four people arrested in Columbia for the murder of Hmong American comedian Tou Ger Xiong have been sentenced to 29 years in prison, according to Xiong’s family.
Fox9 reports the killers received sentences of 29 years in prison.
As AsAmNews reported in December 2023, it’s believed Xiong was lured by a woman he met on social media, but was ultimately kidnapped, forced to send money and then killed.
CBS News reported last year that the U.S. Embassy is aware of eight suspicious deaths of U.S. citizens in Columbia connected to dating apps.
“While we are relieved that justice has been served, there will always be a deep void in our hearts,” the family said in a statement. “The pain of losing Tou Ger remains with us but knowing that those who caused this tragedy will be held accountable offers some semblance of closure, though the journey toward healing is ongoing.”
Xiong is well known in the Hmong community in the Minneapolis area for both his charity work and his comedy.
Since his death, a statue has been erected and an island named in his honor near St. Paul. In addition, Hmong Day which he co-founded at the state fair continues in his memory.
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