Bonus Episode: The murder of Anne Pham

A rainy morning in 1982 Seaside, California, marked the last time 5-year-old Anne-Sang Thi Pham stepped out her door, determined to prove her independence with a two-block walk to kindergarten. Her family, Vietnamese refugees who fled war for a slice of paradise, never saw her alive again. Two days later, her body was found, and a monstrous crime shattered their new beginning. For four decades, her family waited, haunted by grief and unanswered questions. Then, in 2020, a groundbreaking DNA technique—pioneered in cases like the Golden State Killer—cracked open the cold case, leading to a suspect who lived just 60 feet from Anne’s home. Dive into this gripping podcast episode to uncover how cutting-edge genetic genealogy brought justice to a little girl who just wanted to walk to school, and why this case still resonates today. Don’t miss the story of Anne’s courage, her family’s resilience, and the relentless pursuit of truth. References: Man pleads not guilty in 1982 killing of child in California The Mercury News: Man sentenced to life in prison for 1982 murder, kidnapping of 5-year-old Monterey County girl Stars & Stripes: Army veteran admits to 1982 killing of California kindergartner KION News Channel 46: Team that solved Anne Pham cold case murder speaks out County of Monterey: Robert Lanoue pleads guilty to 1982 murder of five-year-old Anne Pham of Seaside; will receive life in prison People: A little girl vanished on her way to kindergarten. Decades later, her neighbor made chilling admission The New York Times: 40 years later, Nevada man is charged with murdering a 5-year-old girl Facebook: Seaside fire & police post KSBW 8 Action News: Man sentenced to life for 1982 murder & rape of Seaside kindergartner True Crime News: Man who kidnapped, raped & fatally strangled kindergarten student in 1982 is sentenced People: California police reopen cold case of kindergartner abducted during walk to school, later found dead on Army base People: Soldier arrested 40 years after girl, 5, was abducted on her way to school & later found dead Law & Crime: Authorities say they solved 5-year-old girl’s 1982 kidnapping & murder Oxygen True Crime: Elderly man arrested in 1982 murder of California girl who vanished on walk to kindergarten Generation Why Podcast: Ex-soldier arrested four decades after the rape & murder of 5-year-old Anne Sang Thi Pham in 1982 NBC News: Reno, Nevada man’s DNA linked to 1982 murder of California girl, 5, DA says Oxygen True Crime: Authorities reopen ‘most disturbing cold case’ of 5-year-old found dead at US Army base Forensic: How many cases have been solved with forensic genetic genealogy? CBC: Genetic genealogy is cracking cases thought unsolvable. Not all police forces can afford to use it Law enforcement resources: CODIS-NDIS statistics Oxygen True Crime: 8 decades-old cold cases that got big breaks thanks to forensic genealogy All our links (YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Merch, etc): https://linktr.ee/crimeandcoffee Facebook Group to discuss episodes: www.facebook.com/groups/crimeandcoffeecouplepodcast/