Blood Trails – Ep. 8: The Murder of Chong Yang

Host: Jordan Sillars (MeatEater)
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Blood Trails" tells the tragic and complex story of Chong Ma Yang, a beloved Hmong-American father and seasoned hunter who was murdered in the Rose Lake State Wildlife Area in Michigan in 2018. The show dives deep into the investigation, the personal and cultural ramifications of the crime, and the ensuing trial that took six years to reach a verdict. Reporting is led by host Jordan Sillars with firsthand accounts from the Yang family, legal experts, and members of the Hmong community, alongside expert analysis and new investigative details.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance and Discovery of Chong Yang (01:28–04:26)

• Family's Initial Reaction

  • At first, Chong Yang’s late return from hunting seemed routine to his children (02:26–03:05). His daughter, My Vu Yang, recalls:

    "We were not alarmed. We were like, mom, dad probably got a deer... stop overreacting." (02:48)

• Discovery in the Woods

  • The search leads to the devastating discovery of Chong’s body, shot in the back of the head with his gear missing.
    • “Someone shot him… I just remember like blacking out and just screaming and crying because… we’re supposed to have Thanksgiving.” – My Vu Yang (03:57)

2. Early Evidence and Investigation (04:26–05:44, 22:45–29:46)

• Crime Scene Details

  • Chong’s face had to be reconstructed for the funeral due to the nature of the wound (04:26).
  • Gun, backpack, and traditional Hmong hunting knife missing – a clear indicator of theft, raising suspicions beyond accidental shooting.

    “You don’t take their gun, their backpack and their knife and leave them out there in the cold to die alone.” – Joseph Yang, Family Attorney (26:53)

• Difficulties for Investigators

  • Rural woods, few witnesses, and overlapping boot prints complicated the investigation.
  • Unique boot prints and a discarded can of scent killer began providing faint leads.

• Suspicion of Racial Motivation

  • Community suspects racism; anti-Asian sentiments and past run-ins with White hunters become a theme.

    “The case teetered on a knife's edge between hot and cold until GPS coordinates, a can of scent killer, footprints in the snow, and a serious blunder by one of the suspects blew the case wide open.” – Jordan Sillars (05:44)

3. The Hmong American Experience & Cultural Context (06:54–17:52)

• Chong’s Background

  • Born in Laos, guerrilla soldier in the US-backed Hmong force during the “secret war” (Vietnam era).
    • “My dad was a guerrilla soldier, and then once the US pulled out… he came in. I believe 88 is when they officially came.” – My Vu Yang (06:54)
  • The episode explores the deep ties between the Hmong people and both war and hunting, highlighting their unique journey and cultural resilience.

• Family and Community Legacy

  • Chong was a mentor, provider, and cultural bridge for his extended family. His death represents compounded loss.

4. Pursuing Justice: Breakthroughs, Dead Ends, and Digital Trails (32:12–43:30)

• Wild Goose Chases & False Leads

  • Bigoted social media posts and potential suspects, such as Jack Kuhn, were intensely scrutinized but eventually ruled out by alibi evidence (cell phone data, receipts, physical limitations).

• Technology Joins the Hunt

  • After two years, Google location data provided new suspects: Tom Olson and Robert Rodway.
  • Forensic advances and the scrutiny of digital footprints (phone GPS, search histories) become pivotal.

5. The Interrogations & The “Joke” Defense (47:06–70:56)

• Suspects’ Interviews Reveal Holes & Disturbing Content

  • Olson and Rodway admit to hunting in the area the night of the killing, but their accounts are inconsistent (e.g., claiming to talk to police when records show they didn’t).
  • Forensic and circumstantial evidence piles up: suspicious routes home, linked scent killer bottle, suggestive Google searches.

• Dark “Humor” as Deflection

  • On their phones, investigators find racist, incriminating texts:

    “A couple of cold blooded killers revisiting the crime scene.”
    “We killed that guy. You don't see us crying about it.”

  • When confronted, Olson and Rodway argue it’s “just dark humor” and not evidence of guilt (64:13–67:32).

6. The Trial and Its Aftermath (74:00–94:39)

• Key Evidence at Trial

  • DNA on the scent killer links Olson to the scene (74:00).
  • Olson’s incriminating (and numerous) searches about the case before the murder was public.
  • Defense raises doubt:
    • No ballistics match for the bullet.
    • No witnesses to the shooting.
    • Photo supports that Tom wasn’t wearing the same boots that matched the crime scene prints.

    “There is zero evidence linking Mr. Olsen to this crime. There is no eyewitness, none that says Mr. Olsen did this.” – Defense Attorney (81:46)

• Motivation Debated

  • Prosecution alleges indifference and racial animus (“frat humor taken too far”)

    “He’s going to be, with his frat humor, scare the devil out of this little Chinaman. Boom. That’s what he’s all about.” – Michigan Assistant AG Cunningham (89:40)

• Verdict

  • Olson found guilty:

    “On count one, we find the defendant guilty of second degree murder.” – Jury Foreperson (92:00)

• Aftermath

  • Olson sentenced to 22.5–60 years in prison. Appeals and attempts at retrial ongoing; Rodway’s charges were dropped, but could be refiled.
  • The Yang family remains vigilant, emotional, and thankful for community support, but not at peace.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Grief and Leadership:

  “As much as sadness as I’m feeling right now, someone has to be the rational one. Someone has to ask the right questions.”
  – My Vu Yang (05:21)

• Cultural Bridge:

  “He’s always been the provider… hunting has always been a way to provide for everyone.”
  – My Vu Yang (10:49)

• Investigator’s Frustration:

  “Once in a while is a joke. This isn’t a fucking joke, man.”
  – Detective Brian Miller confronting Tom Olson on the racist, incriminating texts (67:26)

• Community Reflection:

  “What the Hmong people have gone through… it’s a human thing… if somehow we can use this as a way to connect, maybe we get to see them as the same as us.”
  – Ya Yang (97:43)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:28 – Description of the crime scene and initial confusion
• 05:44 – Yang family’s response and determination to seek justice
• 06:54 – Chong’s wartime history, immigration, and the Hmong American experience
• 22:45 – Detective Miller’s investigation challenges
• 32:12 – Family and community efforts, early false suspects
• 47:06 – Digital evidence pinpoints Olson and Rodway
• 64:13 – Interrogation confronts racist “jokes” as evidence
• 74:00 – Breakthrough DNA evidence and trial preparations
• 81:46 – Defense pokes holes in prosecution’s case
• 89:40 – Prosecution outlines motive, “indifference to life”
• 92:00 – Jury returns guilty verdict
• 94:39 – Appeals and lasting impact on the Yang family

Tone and Narrative Style

The episode blends investigative suspense with deep empathy for the victim’s family and cultural context. It is frank about racial tensions, the failings and strengths of police work, and the pain of unresolved trauma. The hosts and guests inhabit a tone of seriousness, gentle humor when discussing memories, and hard-nosed skepticism when parsing suspect statements.

For Listeners

Even if you’re not familiar with the hunt or the landscape of Michigan, this episode gives you an intimate look at how tragedy, justice, and questions of race and culture intersect in rural America. You’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the Hmong community’s journey, the heartbreak of losing a family pillar, and the painstaking work that goes into solving a crime when clues are few but the stakes are painfully high.

For further details and visuals: Visit themateater.com/BloodTrails for maps, case documents, and photographs referenced throughout the episode.