Tragic outcome — Girl found dead in nearby South Salt Lake apartment

SOUTH SALT LAKE — The search for a 7-year-old girl had a tragic ending Tuesday night.

The body of Hser Nay Moo was found about 7 p.m. in a basement apartment in the same complex where the young girl lived, near 2250 S. 500 East, 30 hours after she was last seen alive.

Four people were taken into custody immediately and a fifth was picked up a short time later in the Fort Union area, said South Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Snyder. The five men were still being questioned at the South Salt Lake Police Department late Tuesday night.

The apartment was the last unit in the complex that had not been cleared by authorities because they had been unable to find anyone home to give them consent to search it, Snyder said. About 7 p.m., four FBI agents found someone home and were given consent to search. "Evidence" led them to the bathroom where Moo's body was found.

The cause of death was not revealed Tuesday night. Snyder would only confirm there were signs of trauma.

Paul Van Dyke, a spokesman for the family, said they were devastated.

"I don't think my words can express the depth of the grief felt by the family. They are devastated. They lost their only daughter."

He said family members gathered inside their apartment after hearing the tragic news. Together with other members of the Myanmar community, the family was holding a prayer service, "singing hymns and taking comfort in each other."

He said the girl's mother was handling things remarkably well, even leading the prayer service. The girl's brothers, Van Dyke said, were angry and seemed to be having a more difficult time.

"Our hearts and sympathies go out to the family," an emotional Snyder said. "This has been a very tough case for all of us."

The chief said the case was the most tragic ending that anyone could have anticipated. "It will be difficult for us to deal with for a long time."

Tragically, the discovery of Hser Nay Moo's (pronounced Tah-bo-mu), body was made at the same time her father, a couple of blocks away, was making a tearful plea to the public for his daughter to be returned safely.

"I have one daughter in this world and I love her most," Cartoon Wah said through interpreter Justin Dolan while wiping away tears. "I don't know who took her. If someone did take her, I ask they return her. That's all I can ask."

Snyder said late Tuesday he had spoken with Wah and his family, but out of respect to them, declined to talk about the meeting.