VANG'S FORMER HOME BURNED

WAOW ^ | 11-28-05

[SJackson]

BROOK PARK, MN - A FIRE IN THIS RURAL MINNESOTA TOWN DESTROYED A HOME THAT ONCE BELONGED TO A ST. PAUL MAN RECENTLY CONVICTED OF KILLING SIX WISCONSIN DEER HUNTERS, AUTHORITIES SAID.

THE FIRE REDUCED THE CEDAR-SIDED HOUSE AND ITS TWO-STORY PLAYHOUSE ONCE OWNED BY CHAI SOUA VANG TO ASHES AND RUBBLE.

"IT APPEARS QUITE SUSPICIOUS," MORE FIRE CHIEF GENE ANDERSON SAID OF THE WEDNESDAY MORNING BLAZE. "THE HOUSE WAS BURNT TO THE GROUND BEFORE ANYONE FOUND IT."

THE CURRENT OWNER, KYLE MALLE, BOUGHT THE HOME FROM VANG IN JULY. HE REMODELED THE STRUCTURE AND FINISHED THE BASEMENT FOR HIS FAMILY, WHICH SPENDS WEEKDAYS IN A TWO-BEDROOM DUPLEX IN ST. PAUL, CLOSER TO WHERE HE AND HIS WIFE WORK AND WHERE THEIR CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL.

"I WAS THINKING I WOULD LIVE THERE FOR LIFE," HE SAID OF THE FIVE-BEDROOM HOUSE AND ITS 40 WOODED ACRES. "FOR ME, THIS IS MY DREAM HOME."

MALLE SAID THE BASEMENT'S CONCRETE BLOCKS WERE DEFACED WITH THE WORD "KISS" AND A PROFANITY.

ON NOV. 21, 2004, VANG SHOT EIGHT HUNTERS, SIX FATALLY, IN RICE LAKE, WIS., ABOUT 110 MILES EAST OF BROOK PARK. TWO MONTHS AGO, HE WAS CONVICTED OF SIX COUNTS OF FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE AND THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE. HE WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY FOR PAROLE.

VANG, 37, WHO IS OF HMONG DESCENT, CLAIMED THAT THE HUNTERS, WHO WERE WHITE, FIRED FIRST AND USED RACIAL SLURS AFTER CONFRONTING HIM IN A DEER STAND ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THE SURVIVING HUNTERS HAVE DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS.

MALLE, WHO IS OF ASIAN DESCENT, SAID THE FIRE HAS CAUSED HIM TO FEEL UNEASY IN THE RURAL, MOSTLY WHITE COMMUNITY OF 150 PEOPLE.

NEIGHBOR MIKE HARMS, WHO BUILT THE HOUSE AND SOLD IT TO VANG, SAID HE WAS SURE THE FIRE WAS STARTED INTENTIONALLY. "I'M SURE SOMEONE LIT IT. I HAVE NO DOUBT," HARMS SAID.

VANG, WHO LIVED IN ST. PAUL, HAD USED THE HOUSE FOR FAMILY GETAWAYS AND HUNTING TRIPS.

[SJackson]

Your lists.

[La Enchiladita]

Trouble brewing up in the woods...?

[Jean S]

Oh my. This kind of revenge is not good, assuming it was arson.

[cripplecreek]

I feel sory for Mr Malle. Rather senseless.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this Upper Midwest (WI, IA, MN, MI, and pretty much anyone else interested) outdoors list, largely rural and outdoors issues, please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

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Not relevant I suppose, but five bedrooms on 40 acres? I had the impression Vang was a city dweller.

[FormerLib]

Psssst, your caps lock is stuck.

[SJackson]

Oh my. This kind of revenge is not good, assuming it was arson.

Assuming it was, revenge on the wrong person. Arson, I hope they catch the perp and put him away for a long time.

[SJackson]

Psssst, your caps lock is stuck.

It's the site, I cut and pasted the article.

[MEG33]

They punished the new owner..Really dumb..and I don't like arsonists.

[teenyelliott]

I don't like arsonists

You gotta be kidding!!!!! Me, neither!!!!

[tet68]

KiSS, obviously satanic hard rockers on rampage.

[ncountylee]

This is terrible.

If Vang had 40 acres I'm surprised he didn't salt lick hunt and fish with explosives.

[Road Warrior ‘04]

I don't like arsonists

Me neither! They really burn me up!

[FormerLib]

In such cases, I run it through Word and use the Change Case function under the Format menu to avoid the all caps shouting.

[SJackson]

They punished the new owner..Really dumb..and I don't like arsonists.

Glad no lives were lost, hope the catch them and put them away.

[Tax-chick]

Bummer for the new owner; I hope he was well insured.

[SJackson]

Thanks, I never knew that function existed.

[jdm]

This is helpful as well (probably the fastest way to convert case):

Upper And Lower Case Letter Converter

[hole_n_one]

Cool!

Thanks for the link!