Conviction of woman who cut baby from womb upheld

OLYMPIA — The state Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the conviction of a Kennewick woman who was sentenced to life in prison for killing a pregnant Pasco mom and cutting her baby from the womb.

In a unanimous decision, the high court rejected Phiengchai Sisouvanh’s claim that the court-appointed expert who conducted her competency evaluation did not properly take into account her cultural background as a Laotian immigrant.

Sisouvanh was convicted of aggravated murder for the 2008 death of 27-year-old Araceli Camacho Gomez, whom Sisouvanh had met and offered to give spare baby clothes. Court records say that Sisouvanh drove Gomez to a highway turnout, stabbed her and then took her to another location where she cut open her abdomen and removed the baby. She tried to pass the infant boy off as her own in calls made to emergency dispatchers. The baby survived and is being raised by his father in Pasco.

Before her trial, Sisouvanh was ordered to undergo a competency evaluation at Eastern State Hospital. She is currently serving out her sentence at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor.

Dr. Randall Strandquist found that Sisouvanh, who came to the United States when she was 5 years old, was socially active in high school, graduated and then was credentialed as a nursing assistant by the state Department of Health in 2005. He “judged her to be substantially acculturated to the United States,” the justices wrote and determined that further investigation and research on her culture was not necessary for this case.

After observations by Eastern hospital staff, the results of multiple diagnostic tests and a formal forensic interview, Strandquist found her competent to stand trial. Sisouvanh pleaded innocent by reason of insanity but was convicted of aggravated first-degree murder in 2010 and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

“Sisouvanh has not shown that Dr. Strandquist’s basis for deciding not to seek out further cultural information and deciding to rely on Western-based diagnostic tests was unreasonable or contrary to the prevailing norms of the mental health field,” the high court wrote.

The Supreme Court opinion, written by Justice Steven Gonzalez ruled that Strandquist’s competency exam was done in a qualified manner and that he “reasonably accounted for cultural competency in his examination.”

A message left with Sisouvanh’s attorney was not returned Thursday.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.