Painted Bodies Add to Mystery Behind Orange County Slayings

San Diego Union-Tribune ^ | May 8, 2005 | Jeremiah Marquez

[Scenic Sounds]

WESTMINSTER – The stabbing deaths of a popular Vietnamese fortuneteller and her daughter were mysterious enough, but stranger still was how their bodies were left in the ransacked home: white paint covered their hands and faces.

Since the slayings two weeks ago, the murder case with cultural overtones has confounded police and locals in this Orange County suburb where a thriving Vietnamese district known as Little Saigon evokes the old country.

Theories abound to explain why Ha Jade Smith and her 23-year-old daughter, Anita Nhi Vo, were killed and coated with paint: robbers hiding evidence, a disgruntled client warding off spirits.

But the woman who was paid thousands of dollars to provide answers in life left only questions in death.

"Are we confused? Yeah, we're confused," said Westminster police Lt. Derek Marsh. "Our department hasn't seen anything like this."

It's a common refrain in this city where a third of the 90,000 residents are Vietnamese immigrants or their children.

Westminster and adjacent Garden Grove are home to the country's largest concentration of people of Vietnamese descent. Shops hawking everything from pho noodles to herbal medicines crowd strip malls in the bustling Little Saigon area.

Among the homeland holdovers are fortunetellers. Part seer, part therapist, some charge thousands of dollars to dispense advice on business, love and other pursuits. Some also offer to cast spells.

"People might go for consultation when they buy a house or need direction or when they are depressed," said Son Kim Vo, who teaches Vietnamese cultural issues at California State University Fullerton. "(Fortunetellers) provide hope for the future."

Smith, 52, plied her trade under the name Miss Ha – a woman said to be sought by clients as far away as New York, according to police and locals. She also was planning a session in Vietnam.

Smith often worked from the modest, one-story residence on a tranquil street where she and her daughter were found dead April 22, each gouged repeatedly in the head and neck. Cuts on their hands suggested they tried to defend themselves.

"It was a coward who did this," Nicky Phan-Ngo, Smith's older sister, said as she arranged flowers and candles in a memorial outside Smith's home. "Whoever the killer is doesn't deserve to belong to our society, Vietnamese or American."

She recalled how Smith, who Americanized her name after she fled Vietnam in 1987, was private about her personal life.

Her sister was also baffled by the clue that haunts authorities: the near-gallon of paint poured over the victims' heads and hands. In the search for an explanation, police have reached out to the community and experts around the world.

"This is by far the most bizarre thing I've seen," said police Detective Tim Vu. "Not only do we have a who-done-it, we have all these other cultural issues."

Though far from certain, authorities suspect the white paint might be related to Smith's profession. Police have received tips speculating that it symbolized the white worn during Vietnamese funerals or the white face coloring of villains in the traditional theater of some Asian countries.

It's also possible the paint was a ruse without any broader significance.

The killer – or killers – rummaged through the house. Papers were scattered, furniture overturned, closets emptied. But hidden stockpiles of cash and jewelry were undisturbed by the culprits, police said.

In 2001, Smith was tied up and robbed at her house, losing $372,000 in cash and jewelry, police said. Two men remain in prison for the crime.

[Scenic Sounds]

Clues?

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Smith was tied up and robbed at her house, losing $372,000 in cash and jewelry...

[SaltyJoe]

Divination is a deadly sin.

Are there any other cases of "tagging" murder victims. Recall the post-Rodney King trial riots. In particular, there was a trucker who was yanked from his rig and beaten mercilessly. (A preacher fearless lay over him to stop the attack). Thugs and gang-bangers were spray painting the unconscious truck driver (especially face and genitals).

Also, if anyone has played "Counter Strike" there is a "tag" feature where the individual players can spray paint their logo on the wall, ground, etc.

This recent murder may be a simple extension of what youths have seen and done in computer games or what gang bangers do on the streets.

If there's more to the paint (symbols, strange writing, a bit more cryptic than gang graffiti), then seek FBI files and especially the local Catholic exorcist. The Church keeps a track record of such things. Occultism is more than just big hair bands from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Nearly all cultures have spiritual rebels. California has many imported sub-cultures and cults (more than just Vietnamese and Hispanics). I think that most normal cops (with normal problems) avoid this and it takes some real spiritual courage to face such a threat. Witchcraft probably freaks them out and they'd rather not deal with a "Night Stalker".

Last reference: Viet gangs and post conflict mutilations. Would this be a carry-over of what Viets experience in their own struggles back in the old country? Vietnam Vets have told me plenty of stories about fighting the Viet Cong. Does this recent double homicide have any clues in that direction?

[Americanexpat]

Never saw anything like it in Vietnam. Sounds to me like she gave some wrong advice and somebody got even. If this is a one time incident and the police can't solve it using current methods we probably will never know, However, if there is a repeat of this crime then we are probably dealing with a gang or a serial killer.

[SaltyJoe]

If not in Vietnam, how about the surrounding region? Boat people, Malays, Laotian, Cambodian, etc.?

[Tennessee_Bob]

Has anyone thought to check the alibis of Shields and Yarnell?

[ClearCase_guy]

They ain't talking.

[Americanexpat]

I have no idea. I wonder if there are any Vietnamese on the police forces? Then again there ought to be Vietnamese in the community that might know including other psychics.

[MeanWestTexan]

Guess this would be a bad place to insert a joke about "SAT CONG."

[mewzilla]

If these folks were Japanese instead of Vietnamese I'd say it sounds like something out of a Butoh dance. Does Vietnamese culture have anything similar?

[struwwelpeter]

Hard to apply for foodstamps and low-cost housing when you've got a third of a million in checking.

[Americanexpat]

"Guess this would be a bad place to insert a joke about "SAT CONG"?

Then again you be be right.

[maestro]

.....Though far from certain, authorities suspect the white paint might be related to Smith's profession. Police have received tips speculating that it symbolized the white worn during Vietnamese funerals or the white face coloring of villains in the traditional theater of some Asian countries....

My guess,.....French-Vietnamese..... international black market underground.....

/circus 'clowns'

[armymarinemom]

I do know that placing your hand on the top of the head or showing the bottom of your foot is offense Cambodians. Could they be stopping good energy from reaching their victim's. The head represents good energy and the foot is negative.

[monkeywrench]

"was private about her personal life."

"a woman said to be sought by clients as far away as New York, according to police and locals. She also was planning a session in Vietnam."

Maybe she was an agent of some sort, and someone had her eliminated.

[R. Scott]

I wonder if there are any Vietnamese on the police forces?

“This is by far the most bizarre thing I've seen," said police Detective Tim Vu.”

[R. Scott]

"Guess this would be a bad place to insert a joke about "SAT CONG"?

Hey! I had that tattoo – and it was responsible for my being promoted to SSG.

[maestro]

...correct......

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

yeah, the $600 a month in interest she would have made would make put her in the "rich" category

[Wally_Kalbacken]

The fortune teller should have seen this coming... maybe it's just God's way of eliminating bottom feeders and non-professionals from that calling.