4 sentenced to prison in Colombia for murder of Twin Cities comedian
Tou Ger Xiong, 50, was on vacation in December 2023. His body was found after he went out to meet a woman he reportedly met on social media.
'After 14 long and agonizing months, we wanted to share the bittersweet news that the four individuals responsible for the heinous crime and the tragic murder of our beloved brother, Tou Ger Xiong, have been found guilty and sentenced to up to 29 years in a maximum-security penitentiary,' Xiong's brother, Eh Xiong, posted in a statement from his family.
Tou Ger Xiong grew up in St. Paul and most recently lived in Woodbury. He was a recipient of the prestigious Bush Fellowship in 2019, founded 'Hmong Minnesota Day' at the Minnesota State Fair, and hosted an online broadcast, 'The Tou Ger Xiong Show.' He was a 1996 graduate of Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.
Colombian officials announced in January 2024 that two men and a woman were charged with aggravated kidnapping for extortion and aggravated homicide. They said a minor admitting to having participated in the crime and also was charged in the case.
'While we are relieved that justice has been served, there will always be a deep void in our hearts, a void that no verdict can ever truly fill,' his family's statement said. '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.'
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