Man's abduction ruled homicide

Date published: 7/8/2008

BY ELLEN BILTZ

Yong Hui Zhang's death was ruled a homicide yesterday by police, but they have yet to confirm the body they found is his.

Natatia Bledsoe of the Fredericksburg Police Department said presumptive identification of the body points to Zhang, but a definitive ID and cause of death are expected today by a medical examiner.

Zhang, 24, a deliveryman, was reported missing by his family Thursday night, and his body was found early Sunday.

Jermaine Lamont Montgomery, 34, and his girlfriend, Marcey Odessa White, 36, have been charged with abduction, carjacking, credit card theft and conspiracy following his disappearance.

Fredericksburg Commonwealth's Attorney Charles Sharp said yesterday that he will wait for more evidence before deciding whether to add more charges to the list against Montgomery and White.

Sharp said that capital murder, potentially punishable by death, would be considered.

"We will have further discussion after all the facts are in," he said.

Zhang's family is Buddhist, a religion that strongly denounces the death penalty.

Dhammarak, a monk at the Stafford Buddhist temple, Wat Pa Tesarangsee, said his faith believes only in karma, not punishment.

"Whatever you do will come back to you," he said.

He said the faith does not condone the killing of another in any circumstance.

Oren Sofer, administrative director for the organization, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, echoed Dhammarak's explanation of the faith.

"The concept of punishments that our justice system is based on is not in line with the Buddhist customs," he said. "Our [punishment] is retribution."

He said Buddhist belief is that everyone is inherently good.

"In order to take the life of another human being, they must have been out of their right mind or in a lot of pain."

Sharp said he plans to speak with Zhang's family and take their wishes into concern before he makes a decision about prosecution and punishment.

"I always consider ideas of the family," he said.

Zhang, who made deliveries for his family's restaurant, China Express, was reported missing Thursday about 10:30 p.m., a little over an hour after he left to do the night's last deliveries.

The last place he was to deliver turned out to be a vacant apartment building on Charles Street, and his family called police when he did not return to the restaurant, Bledsoe said.

Blood and a shoe belonging to Zhang were found near the building.

Police were able to track a credit card belonging to Zhang to a Spotsylvania gas station, then a day later to a Franklin City Wal-Mart, where Montgomery and White were arrested about 5 p.m. Saturday.

A body was later found in a semi-remote area of Sussex County shortly after midnight Sunday, a little more than two days after Zhang was reported missing.

Zhang's car was also located nearby.

Montgomery and White are currently being held without bond at Rappahannock Regional Jail and are expected to appear at 8:30 a.m. today for closed-circuit video arraignment from the jail, Bledsoe said.

Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
Email: ebiltz@freelancestar.com

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Date published: 7/8/2008

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