Tuesday, April 1, 2008

[Oh my heart...]

Tuesday morning there was an Amber alert released for a missing 7-year old girl. By that night they found her, murdered. I can't even imagine what that poor little girl went through and the panic her family felt since she went missing. The suspect lived in her apartment complex and she was found in his apartment. It's so sad and my heart breaks for her and her family. It was great to see all the community support though especially when everyone was looking for her. Nic called me and told me that some cops had come into $5 Pizza and told him that she had been found. This was before it was released to the public and I watched the news from then on until about 10:30 p.m. sobbing for her and her family. Nic said that earlier he had a pizza delivery at that apartment complex and had been searched on the way out. It was shortly after that that she was found. Unfortunately they didn't live in a very good area. I haven't seen the complex but Nic delivers there often and he says it is drug infested. Here an article from KSL about it:


Police: Girl likely killed before family knew she was missing
April 2nd, 2008 @ 10:00pm
Sandra Yi and Randall Jeppesen reporting


The Salt Lake County District Attorney's office will soon file charges against the man accused of killing 7-year-old Hser Nay Moo. Police have revealed more about the man who admitted to killing the girl.

Police arrested a neighbor and fellow Burmese refugee for the crime. Esar Met was home alone when Hser Nay Moo went to his apartment Monday afternoon. Once inside, there was a struggle, and the girl was killed. Jail documents say Met confessed to the crime and to hiding the body before leaving his apartment. Police say the 7-year-old was likely dead before her family realized she was missing.

South Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Snyder said, "It [murder] occurred within the hour, within an hour of her leaving her house. He left fairly quickly, probably before the family even knew she was missing."

Police say Hser Nay Moo knew the suspect and his roommates and had been in their apartment before. Investigators don't know if she was invited in the apartment or if she asked to come in. Police believe she was in the apartment for a while when there was an altercation. Snyder would not go into details.

According to the probable cause statement we obtained from the jail, 21-year-old Esar Met admitted to trying to confine 7-year-old Hser Nay Moo in the apartment by force, resulting in her death. It goes on to say that he admitted to trying to hide the body and other forensic evidence.

Four people living in the apartment where she was found knew the family. Police say she had been in the apartment several times. Police do not know if the family knew Met.

It's believed Met had lived in the apartment complex for about 30 days, which is as long as he has been in the country. Police say he does not have a criminal record.

The apartment has three levels. It's believed the suspect lived in the basement, and that the other four roommates never went there. The roommates were questioned and released.

Snyder would not release details on whether the girl was sexually assaulted or how she died. Police would not comment on a motive or if a weapon was found.

Snyder said an autopsy was performed Wednesday morning, but results won't be available for six to eight weeks.

Gary Keller, of the South Salt Lake Police Department, said, "We're looking at charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated murder. Those charges have not been formally charged yet, and it will be up to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office on those charges."

Wednesday afternoon, Hser Nay Moo's father declined to talk about Met. Surrounded by his two sons and an LDS Service missionary, Cartoon Wah only had words of thanks. He spoke through an interpreter.

"I thank all the news crews who have helped in showing the story of my daughter, and I thank all of Salt Lake City for the help and the comfort and the inner strength you have provided for me and my family," he said.

He says the family is also leaning on their faith to cope with the loss of their little girl. "But I had one daughter in this world, and I loved her the most. And my two sons, they loved their little sister very much as well. And in this world, you can't find another to replace her."

There was a special Mass Wednesday night at Salt Lake's Cathedral of the Madeleine. The Mass was to mark the third anniversary of the passing of Pope John Paul the second, but also included a special blessing for young murder victim Hser Nay Moo, her family, and the community in general.

A friend says the young girl's family prayed, read from the Bible, and sang Christian songs in their apartment late into Tuesday night after learning of her death.

1 comments:

Nicole *Ü* said...

This is so sad!! I had a migraine Tuesday and fell asleep right after the 10 o'clock news started and missed the news conference. She was so cute and I'm so sad for her family.