Tragedy of murdered child touches CCS, refugee resettlement staff deeply

SALT LAKE CITY — Hser Nay Moo, the 7-year-old girl allegedly murdered in her apartment complex in South Salt Lake City was a member of a family that had been resettled in the area through Catholic Community Services (CCS).

"All refugees come to this country facing great challenges," said Suzanne DeVoe, administrative assistant at CCS. "They come seeking safety, asylum, and a better life. They’ve been forced to leave their homelands."

In the case of Hser Nay Moo, her family was from Burma (now called Mayanmar). Her family had spent 20 years in a refugee camp in Thailand, her father, Cartoon Wah, told reporters Tuesday. The suspect being held in Hser’s murder, Esar Met, 21, is apparently also a member of the Burmese refugee community.

DeVoe said the CCS staff has been devastated by the news of Hser’s death

"This is a terrible anomaly," DeVoe said. "We’ve never had anything like this happen."

DeVoe said she hopes everyone understands that this crime was not precipitated because the family were refugees. "The security checks these people have to go through... There’s just no way to predict something like this happening.

"Thousands of refugees have come to this country, and most become productive members of society," DeVoe said. "This is a tragic situation and we are praying for her family."

DeVoe said confidentiality regulations make it impossible for CCS to share much information about people their refugee resettlement program has resettled.

"Right now the family needs us to rally around them as a community," she said.

The Most Reverend Bishop John C. Wester, bishop of Salt Lake City, said, "On behalf of the Catholic faithful in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Hser Nay Moo, who was tragically murdered in Salt Lake City. In addition, I extend our sympathies to the staff of Catholic Community Services, who resettled the victim’s family.

"All of us are saddened by such a tragic and senseless crime that snuffed our such a precious and promising young life.

"We cannot make sense of such devastating violence, but we can turn to our compassionate and loving God, asking the resurrected Lord of life to strengthen and comfort Hser Nay Moo’s family, and to grant her eternal life."

An account has been set up for the family, and donations can be made at any Zion’s Bank branch. The account is in the name of the victim – Hser Nay Moo.