A Roosevelt Man Connected To A Murder Case In The 90s Gets Arrested For Drugs.
- Travis Uresk
- Oct 30, 2022
- 5 min read
Posted by Travis Uresk | Oct. 30th, 2022 | Drugs & Homicide |
By Travis Uresk
10/30/22
Roosevelt, Ut.- On 10/10/22, Officer Barton was patrolling near Stewart's Market Place and observed a male he identified as 51-year-old Hoomphana Vanvilay, also known as Hung Minh Tran. The Officer was aware that Hoomphana had a no-bail warrant.
Hoomphana was at the Echo car wash next to the vacuums across from Stewart's. Officer Barton pulled in next to Hoomphana and saw him handing something to a female in the passenger seat.
The Officer saw Hoomphana putting a plastic bag with marijuana and a bag with cocaine inside the car. Officer Barton told him to stop and drop the bags. Hoomphana did and was placed under arrest and put in the back of his patrol car.
Officer Barton found another bag with methamphetamine inside the car and a .22 caliber rifle in plain view. Barton took possession of the rifle. Hoomphana is a convicted felon and can not possess a firearm.
During the search of the vehicle Officer Barton also found a meth pipe and a THC pen in the center console. Hoomhana was taken to the Uintah Basin Medical Center for medical clearance, and then transported to the Duchesne County Jail.
Police say DNA solves 25-year-old Utah homicide case
by KUTV
Thursday, January 28th 2016
Salt Lake City — (KUTV) A 25-year-old cold has been solved, police say, with the help of DNA technology that led to the arrest of two people.
Salt Lake City police said a resident in Roosevelt, Utah and another in Oklahoma were connected to the 1991 homicide case. Police say in may of that year, 26-year-old Youthaloth Oudanunh was killed after a fight at a dance on 1300 South, West Temple.
Roosevelt resident, 44-year-old Hoomphanh Vanvilay, was arrested. Salt Lake City Police Department detectives traveled to Oklahoma, and with the assistance of local law enforcement there, arrested Vienphet Sundra, 47.
Advancements in DNA analysis moved investigators to review the case using funds from the National Institute of Justice, a federal grant for solving cold cases with DNA, samples were tested. Police also said detectives re-interviewed people they say were involved with the case.
Based on the DNA results and new interviews, the case was presented to the District Attorney's office on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Warrants were then issued for both of those later arrested.
Detectives still want to interview Viengkeo Sundara, 48, as a person of interest and a possible witness in the case. Police hope the public will help locate him and urge anyone with information to call 801-799-3000. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 274637 by starting text with TIPSLCPD and referencing case #91-47661.
Third man charged in 1991 homicide at Salt Lake City community dance
Recent tests show victim's DNA matches blood on knife, alleged attackers' clothes.
The Salt Lake Tribune
· June 8, 2016
A third man has been charged with murder in a slaying 25 years ago at a Laotian community dance in Salt Lake City.
Viengkeo K. Sundara, 48, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony murder in the 1991 stabbing death of 25-year-old Youthaloth Oudanonh.
A $1 million warrant was issued for Sundara's arrest.
In January, prosecutors filed murder charges against Sundara's brother, 47-year-old Vienphet Sundara, and 44-year-ols Hoomphanh Vanvilay.
On May 19, 1991, Oudanonh was stabbed outside the Indian Walk-in Center, 120 W. 1300 South, where the local Laotian community was holding a dance.
A witness testified last month at a preliminary hearing for Vienphet Sundara that Oudanonh had punched Sundara's brother in the face during a confrontation at a wedding party sometime before the dance took place.
Witnesses said Oudanonh was stabbed after he left the building. He then stumbled back to the entrance and collapsed.
A police officer who was providing security at the dance called in a description of the vehicle in which three suspects had fled, and a short time later an officer stopped a vehicle at the 900 South onramp to Interstate 15.
The two Sundara brothers and Vanvilay were in the vehicle.
Vienphet Sundara had blood on his hands, face and clothing and Vanvilay had blood on his clothing, according to court documents. A knife with blood on it was found inside the car.
The charges against Viengkeo Sundara say that he had what appeared to be blood on his shoes. The three were arrested but released for lack of evidence.
The new charges also state that, according to Vanvilay — who has pleaded guilty to second-degree felony manslaughter and agreed to testify against the other two defendants — he and the Sundara brothers confronted Oudanonh outside the dance.
Vanvilay claims Viengkeo Sundara said, "Grab him," as Viengkeo Sundara grabbed one of the victim's arms and Vanvilay grabbed the other arm, charges state.
Vienphet Sundara then pulled out a knife and stabbed Oudanonh. An autopsy showed that he died from a stab wound to the neck.
Prosecutors said the case took years to file because witnesses were reluctant to speak to investigators. But recent DNA tests, not available at the time, show that Oudanonh's DNA was matched to the blood on Sundara's and Vanvilay's clothing and on the knife.
Utah man sentenced to probation for his part in 1991 fatal stabbing at Laotian community dance
By Aubrey Wieber
| Feb. 9, 2018
After agreeing to testify against his two co-defendants in an upcoming murder trial, Hoomphanh Vanvilay was sentenced to probation Friday, and was to be released from jail.
Vanvilay, 46, has spent the past 744 days in jail for restraining 25-year-old Youthaloth Oudanonh while his friend fatally stabbed the man in the neck at a Laotian community dance in Salt Lake City in 1991.
Vanvilay and his co-defendants — brothers Viengkeo and Vienphet Sundara — fled in a vehicle following the stabbing. A security guard at the dance called the vehicle’s description into police.
A short time later an officer stopped the vehicle at the 900 South onramp to Interstate 15. Vienphet Sundara had blood on his hands, face and clothing and Vanvilay had blood on his clothing, according to charges.
A knife with blood on it was found inside the car. Viengkeo Sundara had what appeared to be blood on his shoes, according to charges.
The men were arrested but charges were dropped after police failed to find someone at the dance willing to testify, despite eyewitnesses.
Charges were filed in 3rd District Court in January 2016 after DNA testing not available at the time of the slaying confirmed Oudanonh’s blood was on the knife found in the getaway car.
All three men were charged with first-degree felony murder.
But in May 2016, Vanvilay flipped on his friends and pleaded guilty to a lesser count of second-degree felony manslaughter and agreed to testify against the Sundara brothers.
According to the charges, the 1991 altercation began when Oudanonh punched Viengkeo Sundara at the dance.
When the Sundara brothers and Vanvilay confronted Oudanonh outside of the community center, Vanvilay claims Viengkeo Sundara said, “Grab him,” as Viengkeo Sundara grabbed one of the victim’s arms and Vanvilay grabbed the other arm, charges state. Vienphet Sundara then pulled out a knife and stabbed Oudanonh in the neck.
“He thought they were committing an assault, but it ended up being an assault that killed someone,” Steven Shapiro, Vanvilay’s attorney, said during the sentencing.
The hearing was brief. There were no statements from the victim’s family presented in court. Prosecutor Matthew Janzen said Oudanonh has a brother still living in Utah who has been in contact with prosecutors regarding the case.
Vanvilay, of Roosevelt, declined to speak.
Judge Todd Shaughnessy sentenced him to a one-to-15-year prison term, which was suspended.
The judge gave Vanvilay credit for the two years and 14 days he had spent in jail on the case and ordered his release from jail.
As part of a three-year probation, Vanvilay is required to “truthfully” testify against the Sundara brothers at their trial in May. He previously testified against them during preliminary hearings.
Indictment 10/12/22
