Phoulivay Thetsombandith, a 20-year-old Laotian native, vanished on August 18, 1991, while residing in San Diego, California. Originally from Laos, he had been living with relatives in San Diego since 1989 to learn English and had intended to make it his permanent home. At the time of his disappearance, he was living with his uncle in East San Diego. Thetsombandith had plans to meet his parents, who were visiting from Laos, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
On the morning of his disappearance, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Thetsombandith was walking to another uncle's house, just four blocks away. While in the 6000 block of Brooklyn Avenue, he was abducted at gunpoint by four or five men and forced into a white or gray 1991 Buick Skylark. A single white shoe was left behind at the scene of the abduction.
The investigation into Thetsombandith's disappearance led to the conviction of Percyval Leslie Dryden for his murder. Authorities believe that Dryden mistook Thetsombandith for his cousin, who he thought had broken into his car the previous night. Dryden was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for second-degree murder and the use of a firearm.
Despite his conviction, Dryden never disclosed the location of Thetsombandith's body, claiming he did not know where it was. He alleged that he had only spoken to Thetsombandith before letting him out of the vehicle a block away from where he was taken. Phoulivay Thetsombandith has never been seen or heard from again, and his body has never been recovered. Foul play is suspected in his case due to the violent circumstances of his abduction.Last Seen: Aug 18, 1991
