Arrest made in 18-year-old death of Laotian refugee

<p>Authorities in west Georgia have arrested a man in the 18-year-old killing of a Laotian refugee whose skeletal remains were found in woods in Harris County two years after she disappeared.</p><p>Charles Travis Manley of LaGrange was arrested Monday and charged with murder and kidnapping in the death of Vieng Phovixay, 20, who lived in Newnan in Coweta County.</p><p>"It's been a long time," said Clay Bryant, chief investigator for the Coweta County Judicial Circuit. "But we're certain we have the right man, and we're going to see that justice is done in this case."</p><p>And Bryant said he thinks Manley, who served two stints in prison in the 1980s for rape and burglary, will be linked to other cases.</p><p>"It's very likely he's a serial offender," said Bryant, who has built a reputation for solving cold cases.</p><p>As a result of the recent investigation, Manley also has been charged with the kidnapping and rape of an Austell woman 18 days after Phovixay disappeared. Bryant said investigators have gotten a search warrant to obtain Manley's DNA, which will be turned over to the FBI.</p><p>"This guy was moving around committing all sorts of crimes in all sorts of jurisdictions," Bryant said. "He has not stopped."</p><p>Phovixay was driving from her boyfriend's house in Troup County on Oct. 10, 1987, when she got a flat tire, Bryant said. She was trying to get back to her boyfriend's house when a man offered her a ride. The man took her to her boyfriend's house, Bryant said. He returned later and said he had found a tire for her car, and she agreed to let him drive her back to her car.</p><p>"That's the last time she was seen alive," Bryant said. Phovixay's boyfriend and other witnesses gave a description of the suspect and his car to police.</p><p>Investigators believe Manley took Phovixay to Harris County, about 50 miles away, raped and killed her and tied her to a tree using strips of her clothing.</p><p>A hiker found her remains in November 1989.</p><p>Phovixay was the oldest of five children. Her family emigrated from Laos in the late 1970s, said the Rev. Don Helms, who was then an associate pastor of First Baptist Church in Newnan. The church sponsored the family and helped them find a home in the area.</p><p>Her father, who worked as an adviser to the U.S. military, was imprisoned by the North Vietnamese and the family fled after his release.</p><p>"They were so glad to be here it was just a joy watching them trying to adopt our customs and become part of the American family," Helms said. "We were all devastated when Vieng disappeared."</p><p>Helms has stayed in touch with the family since Phovixay's disappearance and hopes the arrest means their ordeal will soon be over.</p><p>"They've been through so much," he said. "I hope this is the beginning of the end."</p><p>Manley is being held in the Harris County Jail.</p>