PHILADELPHIA, PA — After decades of legal battles and delays, immigration authorities have removed Bou Khathavong to Laos, ending a long-running case tied to one of Philadelphia’s most infamous murders.
The 1994 killing of 16-year-old Eddie Polec shocked the city and became a defining moment in Philadelphia’s violent crime history.
Khathavong’s deportation took place on Sept. 2, following years of legal appeals and immigration proceedings that began nearly three decades ago.
Key Points
- Bou Khathavong was deported to Laos after years of legal challenges
- He was convicted in connection to the 1994 murder of teenager Eddie Polec
- ICE officials said the removal brings long-awaited justice for the victim’s family
Years of proceedings end in deportation
Khathavong, who legally entered the United States from Laos in 1980, was one of several individuals charged after Polec was beaten to death by a group of teenagers on the steps of St. Cecilia’s Church in the Fox Chase neighborhood. The attack, carried out with bats and blunt objects, horrified residents and drew national outrage over youth violence.
Following his 1994 arrest, Khathavong was charged with two counts of murder, criminal conspiracy, and possession of an instrument of crime. He was later convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to a term of five to ten years in prison.
ICE details the removal process
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service lodged an immigration detainer against Khathavong in 1996 while he was in custody at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility. Two years later, he was formally charged as an aggravated felon under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
An immigration judge ordered Khathavong removed from the country in December 2004, but legal complications and supervision orders delayed enforcement. He was released under ICE supervision in 2005.
Officials say removal brings closure
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia Acting Field Office Director David O’Neill said the deportation was a significant step toward closure for the Polec family and the city. “We sincerely hope that the removal of Bou Khathavong can finally help the family of Eddie Polec and the city of Philadelphia heal from one of the most horrifying crimes in Philadelphia’s history,” O’Neill said.
He emphasized that ICE remains committed to protecting the public and ensuring that individuals convicted of violent crimes are held accountable.
The legacy of a senseless crime
The murder of Eddie Polec remains one of Philadelphia’s most remembered cases of youth violence from the 1990s. The attack prompted community outrage, led to policy discussions on teen crime, and remains a tragic reference point in the city’s criminal history.
With Khathavong’s deportation now complete, the case has reached a long-delayed conclusion — though for many in Philadelphia, the memory of that November night on the church steps still lingers.