1994 Murder Suspect Sentenced

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Detectives solved a 1994 stabbing murder of a 42-year-old woman in Chinatown.

On July 11, 2006, Thanh Chi Phung, 45, pled guilty to the murder with an added weapons charge enhancement, of Rosemary Hom. Phung was sentenced to 16 years to life.

Phung was a former employee of Ms. Hom’s company, a fortune cookie manufacturer. His employment had been terminated after he was caught stealing from the company. On November 5, 1994, Phung waited for Ms. Hom to arrive at the business in Chinatown. When she parked her van, Phung confronted Ms. Hom with a knife demanding his job back. When Ms. Hom refused, Phung became enraged and stabbed Ms. Hom numerous times, killing her. Phung dumped the body and her van nearby and fled the area.

Asian Crimes Investigation Detectives re-opened the cold case of Ms. Hom in 2004 with the DNA evidence from the crime scene. Interviews of family members and witnesses led detectives to focus on Phung, whose DNA had recently been placed in CODIS because of a prior crime conviction. Phung’s DNA matched that from the crime scene, and he was located and arrested in La Puente.

Ms. Hom was married with four children at the time.

For further information call Asian Gang Unit Detective Solomon or Yueng at 213-847-1767.