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SALT LAKE CITY — One of two men charged earlier this year with a 1991 stabbing death at a dance has pleaded guilty.
Hoomphanh Vanvilay, 44, of Roosevelt, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree felony manslaughter in the death of 26-year-old Youthaloth Oudanonh. Vanvilay was originally charged in January with murder, a first-degree felony.
In exchange for the plea deal, Vanvilay agreed to testify at trial for the second man charged in the stabbing, 47-year-old Vienphet Sundara. If he follows through with the agreement, prosecutors will recommend jail time rather than prison for Vanvilay, according to court documents.
A preliminary hearing for Sundara has been set for May 24.
On May 19, 1991, Oudanonh was stabbed multiple times in the back, shoulder and neck while attending a dance at 120 W. 1300 South, according to police. An officer working security at the dance spotted the man "stumble between two cars, bleeding heavily," according to charging documents.
Oudanonh was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. He had been in a confrontation with one of the suspects two weeks before he was killed, according to police.
After the stabbing, Salt Lake police stopped a fleeing vehicle at the 900 South on-ramp to I-15. Vanvilay, Sundara and a third man were all in the vehicle, and all were confirmed to be at the dance, according to charges. Sundara "had blood on his hands, face and clothing," the charges state. Vanvilay also allegedly had blood on his clothing, and a bloody knife was found in the vehicle.
All three were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail but were later released because of lack of evidence. Police said at the time they believed several people witnessed the stabbing, but no one would come forward.
When charges were filed in January, Salt Lake police said they were looking for the third person believed to have been in the car that night, Viengkeo Sundara, 48. He is considered a person of interest and a possible witness in the case, according to police.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said in January that advances in DNA technology, which identified the blood on the men's clothing as Oudanonh's, made it possible to file charges.
Sentencing for Vanvilay will be scheduled at a hearing July 29.
