You don't hear a lot of these cases because of the laws here in the US which allows 2 consenting adults to get married. My thought is, maybe his girlfriend did not actually love him enough to marry him. Led him on and lied to him that her parents did not allow her to marry him. IF she loved him enough, I think she would most likely run off with him.
It's clear the girl didn't have any clear intentions of marrying the guy, or maybe she finally came to her senses and realized it would be a mistake.
In Laos, the only girls who end up marrying a man they don't love is because they don't have a boyfriend waiting on the side OR because the side boyfriend qeeb siab (we know what that means
). Even in Laos, girls who have a boyfriend do not wait for their parents approval. They simply elope with the man of their choice. This is not a case between Laos and USA.
There are very few parents who force their daughter to marry just so they can make a few quick bucks. Many times the parents yeej pom tias tus vauv yog neeg zoo and that their daughter is not going to get a better offer. Conditions are harsh for unmarried women who live as old spinsters. In addition, I hardly call it "force" when bf/gf ua rau tej laus rhuav phlu so parents are compelled to marry them.