Suspect charged in Moo's slaying

The young girl who captured the hearts of a community after she disappeared from her South Salt Lake apartment last week was possibly strangled and was sexually assaulted, according to court documents.

But Hser Ner Moo's apparent struggle to fight off her attacker may have also helped investigators solve the case.

When officials found Moo's body, her hand was still clutching some hairs of the man who attacked her, according to court documents.

Esar Met, 21, was charged Tuesday afternoon in 3rd District Court with aggravated murder and child kidnapping, both first-degree felonies, in the death of 7-year-old Moo.

Aggravated murder carries a possible death sentence if convicted, but Salt Lake District Attorney Lohra Miller said Tuesday her office had not decided whether it would seek that penalty. Child kidnapping carries a possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Met's bail was set Tuesday at $2.5 million.

An autopsy showed Moo "died as a result of blunt force injuries to her head, neck and torso," according to court documents. The state medical examiner concluded her injuries were consistent with strangulation or suffocation.

The aggravating factor in the homicide was that Moo was sexually assaulted, according to court documents.

In a sometimes heart-wrenching account, court documents stated that when Moo's body was found, her skirt was lifted, her underwear was next to her head and there was evidence of trauma to her genitals.

Moo's disappearance and homicide has affected nearly everyone who has heard of the case, including law enforcement and prosecutors.

"These types of cases touch the lives of every person who investigates them and prosecutes them," Miller said.

Police spoke with Moo's family Tuesday prior to the charges being filed, said an interpreter at the meeting.

"It was what they expected," Justin Dolan said of the details in the charging documents. "There weren't any surprises. They (the family) told me after that they leave all of the responsibility with the legal system and the police to carry out justice. They're comfortable with whatever that would be."

The charges against Met could mean the death penalty if he is found guilty, a scenario for which the family is also prepared.