Unsolved Mysteries Wiki
Thammavong

Chansamai and Abby Thammavong

Real Names: Chansamai and Abby Thammavong
Nicknames: No known nicknames
Location: Arizona
Date: August 6, 1998

Case[]

Details: On August 6, 1998, Chomping Thammavong was driving his wife, Bouathong Thammavong, and their four children to Wisconsin from Bakersfield, California. He was driving a Toyota 4-Runner with a U-Haul trailer attached. At 2am, he was traveling east on I-40 near the Arizona/New Mexico border. There were few cars on the road; he was driving in the fast lane. Suddenly, he looked in the rearview mirror and noticed two trucks quickly approaching him. He moved over to the slow lane to avoid them. Without warning, one of them slammed into the back of the U-Haul, causing the vehicle to go out of control.
The 4-Runner flipped over and the two younger children, nine-year-old Chansamai and six-year-old Abby, were thrown out of the windows and killed. The other two children, Somlith and Sayphinh, survived but were seriously injured. Police have been unable to locate the driver of either truck. The only evidence left behind were pieces of the truck's bumper that were found strewn across the highway.

Thammavong suspect vehicle

Suspect's vehicle

Suspects: The suspect's vehicle was an eighteen-wheel GMC Volvo tractor trailer. It was tan or bronze in color, possibly with some red. It has never been located. It may have been repaired shortly after the accident.
Extra Notes:

  • This case originally aired on the April 16, 1999 episode.
  • It was excluded from the FilmRise release of the Robert Stack episodes.

Results: Unsolved
Links: