Lester Virgil
Murderer
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3 victims
- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Los Angeles, California, USA
- Date of birth
- 1974
- Age at first offence
- 18
- Characteristics
- robbery, rape, murder for hire, drugs
- Victim profile
- Soy Song Lao, 22 (female store clerk)
- Method of murder
- Stabbing with knife
- Date(s) of murder
- October 29, 1992
- Years active
- 1992
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on June 29, 1995
Background
Lao had escaped her country's "killing fields" and worked at the doughnut shop while attending USC.
The offence
He grabbed Lao, dragged her into a bathroom at knife-point, gagged her, tied her up with two aprons and a small hand towel, hacked her with a knife 30 times, and walked away. Although customers stood at the counter, he calmly collected $12 from the cash register and ran.
Virgil stabbed a motel maid 20 times in the course of a robbery and attempted rape in Los Angeles; she survived.
Investigation
Virgil was described in court as a "vicious, savage animal."
Trial
The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Marc Chomel, said:
Virgil took the life of a "young bright light that showed a lot of promise."
Sentencing
Lester Virgil was sentenced to death on June 29, 1995.
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