In a tragic turn of events, Hmong American artist and activist Tou Ger Xiong has been found dead in Colombia under what appear to be circumstances of kidnapping and murder. The 50-year-old Minnesotan, known for his work as a comedian and storyteller, was reported missing earlier this month, according to Colombian authorities.
Xiong had arrived in the northern city of Medellín on Nov. 29, and on December 10, he reportedly called a friend in the United States for help, claiming he had been kidnapped and that his captors demanded a $2,000 ransom, as stated by Yiri Amado Sánchez, sectional director of Medellín prosecutor's office, in a statement obtained by CBS News Minnesota.
Xiong's background as a Hmong refugee, who arrived in the United States with his family after fleeing Laos, informed much of his activism and art. Growing up with the stings of being 'othered' in America, he harnessed his experiences into a force for inclusion, using humor and storytelling as his tools. "A lot of people try to find joy in life, but he lived joy," Bo Thao-Urabe, a close friend of Xiong, stated in CBS News Minnesota.
