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Murder charges filed in 25-year-old stabbing death

Crime • Forensic technology that was unavailable at time of killing provided new evidence.

Thanks to advances in DNA technology, two men have been charged with killing another man nearly 25 years ago at a Salt Lake City dance event.

Hoomphanh Vanvilay, 44, and Vienphet "Steve" Sundara, 47, were charged last week in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony murder for the 1991 stabbing death of 26-year-old Youthaloth Oudanonh.

Vanvilay, is a Laotian immigrant whose address was listed as Roosevelt, Utah, according to jail and court records. Sundara was born in North Vietnam but has been living in Oklahoma City, Okla. Both men have been booked into the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $1 million bail, cash-only.

Scheduling hearings for both are set for Feb. 19.

Salt Lake District Attorney Sim Gill said the charges were coming now due to advances in forensic technology that were not available in 1991.

The Salt Lake City police department also credited funding from a federal grant from the National Institute of Justice for solving cold cases with DNA. Detectives also re-interviewed people who were involved, police said.

Oudanonh was stabbed on May 19, 1991, while attending a dance at 120 W. 1300 South, according to charging documents.

About two weeks earlier, one of the defendants had a physical had a physical confrontation, which led up to the homicide, police said.

An officer working security heard someone shout that a person had been stabbed. The officer went outside to see Oudanonh "stumble between two cars, bleeding heavily," charges state. The officer also heard someone say that the suspects, three Asian males, had fled west on 1300 South in a white car.

Oudanonh was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Soon after, police stopped a suspect car at the 900 South on-ramp to Interstate 15, and the officer who was at the dance confirmed the three occupants had been at the dance.

Sundara had blood on his hands, face and clothing, Vanvilay had blood on his clothing, and a blood-covered knife was found in the car, charges state.

Oudanonh 's DNA was matched to the blood found on the two suspects' clothing and the blood on the knife, charges state.

Police said Wednesday that homicide detectives would like to interview Viengkeo Sundara, 48, a person of interest and possible witness in the case.

The Police Department asks anyone who may know the location of Viengkeo Sundara to call (801) 799-3000. Anonymous tips may be sent by text to 274637. Please start your text with TIPSLCPD, which routes it to the police department. Then include any relevant information. Reference: case #91-47661.

Courtesy | Salt Lake County Sheriff Vienphet "Steve" Sundara.