The Chilling Crimes of Doeur Seoung

In the late 20th century, the United States bore witness to the chilling tale of Doeur Seoung, a Cambodian-American whose life journey spiraled into a series of heinous crimes. Born in 1970 in rural Cambodia, Seoung arrived in the United States as a refugee around 1983, escaping the turmoil of his homeland with his father, Sok Seoung. They settled in Austin, Texas, where young Doeur attended Lamar Junior High School. However, his academic pursuits were overshadowed by a growing penchant for delinquency. The boy who seldom showed up at McCallum High School was frequently arrested for burglary and theft, setting the stage for a future marred by violence.

The Innocence Lost: Volith Long

The first known victim of Doeur Seoung’s brutal spree was Volith Long, a six-year-old girl whose life came to a tragic end on March 13, 1985. Her naked body was discovered in a dumpster behind an apartment building in North Austin, wrapped in a curtain and stuffed inside a plastic trash bag. Volith had been sexually assaulted and then strangled to death. She was last seen by a neighbor just hours before her body was found. The nature of her murder led authorities to suspect someone she knew, as she lived in a community of refugees who had limited English proficiency.

Volith’s death was a devastating blow to her mother, Rady, who had fled persecution from the Khmer Rouge after they killed her husband in 1978. The investigation into Volith’s murder stalled as authorities struggled to find clues or suspects. Despite public appeals for information and attempts to gather fingerprints from the crime scene, the case went cold.

The Second Tragedy: Sath Yem

Just months later, on September 5, 1985, tragedy struck again in North Austin. The body of 67-year-old Sath Yem was found in her apartment, located only half a mile from where Volith had been killed. Yem’s son, concerned after she failed to answer the door, enlisted the help of the apartment manager to gain entry. Unable to open the door with the master key, they had a neighbor’s child climb through an open window. Inside, they found Yem’s lifeless body, while her grandchildren were unharmed.

An autopsy revealed Yem had been sexually assaulted and strangled. The crime scene suggested a home invasion, with items and money stolen. Later, one of the children revealed that the intruder was Doeur Seoung, who had repeatedly burglarized Yem’s home and bragged about it to her son. Seoung had even slashed the son’s car tire when confronted about his behavior. Upon his arrest, Seoung led police to $3,000 worth of jewelry he had stolen from Yem, though $5,000 in cash remained missing, likely used to purchase a motorcycle that was later impounded.

Legal Proceedings: Juvenile Justice

The severity of Seoung’s crimes led prosecutors to push for him to be tried as an adult, which under Texas law, would mean a possible life sentence. However, Judge Joe Hart ruled for a juvenile trial, resulting in a maximum sentence of two years in a correctional institution. This decision left the victims’ families and prosecutors dismayed.

A New Chapter: California Murders

Following his release, Seoung's activities remained largely undocumented until 1998, when he was convicted for a double murder in California. Sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, he was required as a felon to provide a DNA sample. This sample would later become pivotal in linking him to his past crimes.

Justice Revisited: The Breakthrough

In an unexpected twist, a retired schoolteacher who had once taught Seoung saw a CrimeStoppers episode about the unsolved murder of Volith Long. Remembering Seoung, the teacher submitted a tip, leading investigators to re-examine the case. DNA testing confirmed Seoung’s involvement in Volith's murder, prompting Texas authorities to issue an arrest warrant.

In June 2001, Seoung was extradited to Texas, with bail set at $500,000. During his trial in February 2002, Seoung pleaded guilty to Volith’s murder, receiving a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years. His lawyer suggested that rejecting the plea deal would have resulted in another life sentence without parole, ensuring he remained behind bars indefinitely.

Since then, little information has surfaced regarding Seoung’s current status or the specifics of his incarceration. His life story, marked by violence and tragedy, serves as a sobering reminder of the dark paths that some lives can take.

Sources

• Austin American-Statesman Articles
• Wikipedia Article on Doeur Seoung