US Comedian Kidnapped And Killed In Colombia While On Vacation After Going On A Date With Woman He Met Online

On Monday, December 11, tragedy struck as Tou Ger Xiong, a 50-year-old American comedian and activist hailing from Minnesota, was fatally stabbed during his visit to Colombia.

The New York Post reported that he was abducted before the unfortunate incident occurred. Tou Ger Xiong, an Asian-American, was on vacation in the South American country at the time of his death.

His brother, Eh Xiong, officially confirmed the tragic news on Tuesday morning through a post on Facebook.

"It is with immense sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the discovery of the body of our beloved family member, Tou Ger Xiong. He was a cherished member of our family, and the pain of his loss is indescribable," Mr. Xiong's family wrote in the Facebook statement.

As the Colombian newspaper El Colombiano reported, Mr. Xiong landed in Medellin, Colombia, on November 29 to spend the holidays there. On Sunday, December 10, he decided to meet a woman he had connected with on social media.

Unfortunately, his plans took a tragic turn as he became the victim of an attack and kidnapping by a group of men shortly after meeting the mysterious woman.

The men kept him captive and reached out to his family and friends, seeking a ransom of $2,000. However, even before the money could be collected, they tragically took his life a day later.

His body, bearing multiple stab wounds and signs of blunt-force trauma, was located in the waters of the La Corcovado ravine. Authorities are looking into whether an attempted escape played a role in his murder.

screenshot

Following the discovery of his body, the police visited his apartment and encountered a woman in the process of taking belongings from his room. She fled when they attempted to question her.

''We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies that are diligently working to investigate this heinous crime. We trust in their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice, and we implore anyone with information to come forward and assist in this effort,'' a family statement read.

''This is devastating news. My heart goes out to Tou Ger Xiong's family and our entire Hmong community. As a comedian and activist, his work touched many lives in the Twin Cities and beyond." US Representative Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota) expressed condolences for his death.

Mr. Xiong, a Laotian-American comedian and educator from St. Paul, Minnesota, was well-known for advocating for the Hmong people, an indigenous group primarily residing in Southeast Asia.

Authorities report an increase in kidnappings in Colombia. El Colombiano noted that three American tourists, including Mr. Xiong, have been murdered in the last month.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.