Phoung Le -- Found Deceased 5/7/10

Vigil Candles Instead of Birthday Candles for Missing California Nurse
Phuong Le Missing Since Sunday; Vigil Being Held on Same Night as Her 25th Birthday

By EAMON McNIFF
April 30, 2010



The family of Bichphuong Le will mark a somber birthday for the hardworking 25-year-old nursing student today. Rather than lighting candles on a birthday cake, Le's friends and family will be lighting candles at a vigil for Le, missing since last Sunday.

The vigil will take place on the grounds of the Solano College campus in Fairfield, Calif., as the search for Le continues.

"We're really sure somebody kidnapped her," Le's brother, Dinh told ABC News today.

According to Dinh, 31, his sister left her house where she lives with her family around 5 p.m. last Sunday night to go to the Barnes & Noble Bookstore near her house.

"She usually goes to the Barnes & Noble to study and relax," Le said.

Le said his sister, called Phuong by her family, was upset when she left the house following a minor dispute with another sibling but it was nothing to cause them to think she would harm herself.

"She left mad, but it was no problem at all. She was OK," he said.

"She would never have done anything to herself, she loved her family," said Le.

His sister had in fact just passed the NCLEX test to get her nursing license and was planning a big celebration today with her family.

"She just got her license about two weeks ago. She was really happy about that. Our family was planning to give her a big party today for her birthday and getting her license," Le said.

Phuong Le usually returned home from Barnes & Noble before midnight, and when she didn't her other brother Hong went to Barnes & Noble looking for her. Hong found the car with all the doors open, windows down and her belongings in the car.

The Fairfield and Suisun City police are now working on the case jointly, and have issued a nationwide missing persons report.

Police confirmed that Le had been at the bookstore between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. the night she disappeared, and so far there are no leads involving anyone who wished to cause Le harm. The family said she was not involved with any boyfriends.

Lt. Darrin Moody of the Fairfield police said in a press conference Thursday that it was unclear whether Le vanished on her own or was kidnapped.

"We're exploring both avenues," Moody said.

"We're just trying to find her," he said, adding that they would search until she was found.

Family of Phuong Le Does Not Believe She Would Disappear Under Her Own Will

For her brothers, the idea that Le would leave on her own is unfathomable. She was not one to ever stay away from home for a night, Dinh Le said. He said his quiet and hardworking sister, one of eight siblings, was devoted to her career in nursing, and more importantly her family.

"There's no way she went to a friend's house or hang out somewhere. Something is wrong. Something is going on here," Hong Le told the ABC affiliate ABC News 10.

Hong added he thought his sister was "out there somewhere and needs help right now."

"We're really sure somebody strange passed by, saw her in the car and kidnapped her," Dinh said. "That's the only way she is missing."

Dinh said friend and family had been distributing flyers throughout the area this entire week and remain hopeful someone with information will come forward, to bring his sister home.

"Whatever people know what happened to her, bring her back home safe to us," Le said.

Anyone with information on Le's disappearance is urged to contact the Fairfield Police at (707) 428-7300 the tip line has specifically assigned to this case at (707) 428-7345.

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/search-missing-california-nurse-birthday/story?id=10520280

Former boss says he's not involved in Suisun City nurse's disappearance

Jason Kobely
Last updated 20 hrs ago



FAIRFIELD, CA - The former boss of a missing Suisun City woman said he had nothing to do with Phuong Le's disappearance and was cooperating with investigators as the search for the young nurse moved into its second week late Sunday.

Neighbors of Thuc Nguyen confirmed to News10 that Fairfield police searched Nguyen's Fairfield home in the Rancho Solano area Friday, allegedly searching for clues to Le's disappearance.

Le, 25, was last seen April 25 at the Fairfield Barnes and Nobles store in the Gateway Drive shopping plaza.

Brother Huong Le said his sister worked at Nguyen's Suisun City Postal Express store for nearly two years and described Nguyen as a friend of the Le family.

Fairfield police Lt. Al Bagos said Sunday the department would not confirm any details of possible search warrants served at the Nguyen home or his business and would not comment on any possible connection between Nguyen and Le's disappearance.

However, neighbors of Nguyen said they saw Fairfield police officers searching the house Friday.

"Neighbors are on edge," said one Rancho Solano resident, who asked not to be identified. "Most of us don't believe it."

When contacted Sunday, Nguyen would not confirm whether his home and business were searched. However, Nguyen told News10 he has been visited by police in connection with the Le case and was cooperating fully with investigators.

Nguyen also said he was home last Sunday when Le disappeared and video surveillance can prove he never left during the time Le is believed to have disappeared.

Huong Le said he is "surprised, shocked and confused" by reports that Nguyen's home and business were searched.

Le's unlocked car was found Monday, her purse and cellphone left inside, according to Fairfield investigators.

"I never thought that would happen," Le said. Le also denied rumors that his sister and Nguyen may have been romantically involved.

"He is married and has two kids," Le said.

http://www.news10.net/news/article.aspx?storyid=80647&catid=188

Update: Body Found in Napa County Matches Description of Missing Fairfield Woman

Brian Shields
5/7/2010 9:42:00 PM





FAIRFIELD (KRON) -- Fairfield police say they are still trying to identify the body of a young woman with a "similar description" to a missing woman Phuong Le found Friday in Napa County.

Police say a woman walking her dog found the remains about 30 yards off of Highway 121 about 20 miles northwest of Fairfield.

The Solano County coroner's office is conducting the autopsy. Authorities won't speculate on when an identification could be complete.

Police say the Le family has been notified of the description. At least one family member was at the scene of the body's discovery.

Authorities say they are not aware of other missing people in either Solano or Napa Counties that might match the description of the remains that were found.

The remains were discovered Friday morning. Solano County, Napa County, and FBI investigators are all examining the evidence found at the crime scene.

The Le family and friends had organized a search of Rancho Solano Park for Saturday. Police say they weren't involved in that effort and remain unclear about whether it will continue.

Authorities say they will continue to search for Le until they get positive identification indicating the remains found Friday are those of the missing woman.

Phuong Le disappeared April 25th from Fairfield. The recent nursing school graduate's car was found at the Barnes and Noble store in Fairfield. Her identification and cell phone were in the trunk. Since then her family and Fairfield police have conducted extensive searches for the missing woman.

http://www.kron.com/News/ArticleView/tabid/298/smid/1126/ArticleID/5937/reftab/536/Default.aspx

Another sad story .. ALthough they havent identified her, it seems plausible to think it is her..I thought LE said too much in the presser.. I was shoecked to hear LE tell the reporter that her family was made aware odf the location of the remains and that 2 brothers were at the scene b4 le got there..

It is said that she and her brother had a fight earlier that day....

Not that I think he had anything to do with it... but I just cant see LE didnt there first .. WTH????? reporters and family members at the scene b4 LE????? I suspect media were listening to a scanner????

I thought that was odd too, AJ. Didn't they call Morgan Harrington's parents to the scene as well, they saw her remains as they were. Or did the Harrington's ask if they could come out?

I thought that LE has the Harringtons come and try and identify her .. but cud be wrong!

I just heard that there has been a positive ID made... Looks like they are suspecting the boyfriend.... so sad ..She was such a promising young lady..

Coroner: It's Phuong Le

Updated 4:46 PM PDT, Mon, May 10, 2010



The Solano County Coroner's Office has confirmed that a body found in Napa County on Friday is that of missing woman Phuong Le, and her death is being classified as a homicide.

Her preliminary cause of death has been determined, police said, but that information is being withheld because of potential value it has in a criminal investigation.

Family members said earlier that investigators told them the body matched Le's description.

The body was also found with a jade bracelet and a watch similar to the one that Le was last seen wearing.

The missing woman's body was identified through fingerprints.Le's family told police she left her Suisun City home at about 5 p.m. on April 25.

She headed over to a Fairfield Barnes and Noble cafe to read some books. She was last seen at about 8:30 p.m. that evening.When the woman didn't return home at midnight, her brother said he went to search for her. He said he spotted her unlocked car in the parking lot, with her belongings still inside.

Friends and family organized search parties and posted flyers all over town.A woman walking her dog Friday morning in a remote area of Napa County found a body matching Le's description, investigators said.

"It's fair to say the body had been there for some time," Fairfield police Lt. Darrin Moody said at a Monday news conference.Le was not pregnant at the time of her death, police said.Both of Le's brothers have been interviewed and neither one of them is considered a suspect or person of interest in the case, police said.

Additional interviews being conducted with other individuals who've had past contact with Le.

Police said there are no definitive suspects in the case.

Though he wouldn't say investigators are well on their way to their arrest, "I will say we have some information we're moving forward on," Moody said.

"We have treated this from the beginning as though we were investigating a homicide, kidnapping, et cetera," Moody said.

KCRA.com contributed to this report.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Coroner-Its-Phuong-Le-93331024.html

AJ, it really is sad that all these young lives are being snuffed out daily. I wish there wasn't so much evil in the world.

Le Family Coming To Grips With Difficult News

Updated: 6:16 pm PDT May 11, 2010





FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- One day after police identified her body, Phong Le's brother and sister are talking about her death and how their family was dealing with the devastating news and funeral preparations.

A Barnes & Noble bookstore in Fairfield where Phuong Le worked was the last place she was seen alive. Le's car was found in the bookstore parking lot one day after she disappeared April 25th. Her personal belongings were in the trunk.

On Tuesday, her family was preparing to make funeral arrangements.

The coroner's office told KTVU her body will be released to the family on Wednesday, four days after it was discovered off of a rural road in Napa County.

A person walking their dog found her body about 30 feet from a turnout on Highway 121, a busy road but a remote location.

Candles and two pictures of a smiling nursing school graduate outside the Barnes & Noble make up one memorial. 15 miles away, a small bouquet of flowers off Highway 121 marked a second memorial where Le's body was found Friday morning.

At a Monday afternoon press conference, police confirmed the body was that of Le, but offered little additional information. However, authorities did announce that the case was now being investigated as a homicide.

Tuesday at Holy Spirit Church in Fairfield, Le's family sought both answers and solace.

“We come here to pray for her today,” said the victim’s sister Bucphoung Le. “We're missing her.”

Le's sister was joined by her brother Huong at the morning mass.

“Basically it’s a mass for my sister's soul. A praying mass for sister’s soul,” explained Huong Le.

A priest at Holy Spirit expressed his sympathy for the grief-stricken family

“Our heart goes out to the family,” said Father Micheal Downey. “It’s a real sad time for the family. People just can't imagine the heartaches and emotional trauma this is causing the family.”

Part of that trauma for the family is not knowing what happened to Le or why.

“She [was a] very good girl,” said Bucphoung Le. “I don't know why they want to kill her. She was very good. I don't know why.”

Though no suspects have been named in the case, the family tried to remain optimistic that authorities would find the guilty party.

“I do still have hope and I do believe they are going to find whoever did this,” said Huong Le. “They're going to bring justice.”

The cause of death has been determined, but police were keeping that and other information close to the vest as they proceed with their investigation.

http://www.ktvu.com/news/23523914/detail.html#

Court papers: Slain nurse Phuong Le wanted to be with ex-employer

C. Johnson
May 21, 2010

FAIRFIELD, CA - In court documents released to the public Friday, Fairfield detectives investigating the disappearance and homicide of Suisun City nurse Phuong Le say e-mails she sent to her former employer were of a "romantic nature" and she indicated she wanted to be with him.

Det. Shaffer also said the former employer, Thuc Nguyen, sent several e-mails to Le, including lyrics to an Air Supply song, "Making Love Out of Nothing."

Le was reported missing April 25 and found dead nearly two weeks later.

Detectives learned there had been two cell phone calls between Le and Nguyen, her former boss, on the evening she was last seen, Sunday, April 25, at a Barnes and Noble bookstore she frequented in Fairfield. She didn't return home that evening and her brother found her white Honda in the parking lot of the bookstore early the next morning with her personal belongings still inside.

Read more: http://www.news10.net/news/story.aspx?storyid=81908&catid=2

Coroner Report On Phuong Le Cause Of Death Contradicts Fairfield PD Statement

By Matthew Keys FOX40 News

June 15, 2010

 

FAIRFIELD - A coroner's report released Tuesday revealed nursing student Phuong Le died of a single stab wound after disappearing from a Fairfield bookstore in late April.

The report released Tuesday said Le's cause of death was determined to be a stab wound to the chest. The autopsy was conducted on May 10th, according to the press release issued by a Solano County public information officer.

Le disappeared from the parking lot of a Barnes & Noble bookstore in Fairfield on April 25th. Her body was discovered along a rural Napa County road on May 7th.

Read more: http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-news-phuongle0615,0,1723680.story

What a sad story.. we still need to enter her grissly discovery date, on the thread..

Thanks AJ. Yes, a very promising young life taken away for what.......?

New Leads In Phuong Le Murder Investigation

New Evidence, People Of Interest In

UPDATED: 10:26 pm PST March 2, 2011

FAIRFIELD, Calif. -- Fairfield police have revealed they have recently uncovered new evidence in the Phuong Le murder investigation that could lead them to a suspect.

Lt. Greg Hurlbut said he met with the FBI and discussed the case Wednesday afternoon.

Le is the Solano County nursing student who was stabbed to death. She disappeared in late April, leaving her car at a Barnes and Noble in Fairfield. Two weeks later detectives found Le’s body in a woody area of Napa County.

Read more: http://www.kcra.com/news/27061104/detail.html