Twin Cities artist and activist Tou Ger Xiong was murdered Monday after being kidnapped in South America, according to a prepared statement from his family.
Xiong, 50, was killed while on a trip to Medellín, Colombia.
“It is with immense sadness that we share the heartbreaking news of the discovery of the body of our beloved family member,” the Xiong family statement reads. “Tou Ger Xiong was a cherished member of our family, and the pain of his loss is indescribable
Xiong’s kidnapping occurred during a date this past Sunday with a woman he had met on social media, according to El Colombiano, a daily newspaper in Colombia. A group of men kidnapped Xiong and contacted his family, asking for a $2,000 ransom, or 8 million Colombian pesos. They killed Xiong the next day, according to El Colombiano.
Xiong’s body was found outside of an apartment with more than a dozen stab wounds, El Colombiano reported. Police suspect he also suffered a nearly 60-foot fall.
Xiong had arrived in Colombia on November 29 to spend the holidays abroad, according to the newspaper.
“We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies who are diligently working to investigate this heinous crime,” the family statement reads. “We trust in their commitment to bringing those responsible to justice, and we implore anyone with information to come forward and assist in this effort.”