A beloved San Francisco artist who vanished months ago was slaughtered by his own roommate, police say.
Somboun Sayasane, 75, mysteriously disappeared in December last year. The Laos-born artist was known for his hundreds of stunning depictions of California landscapes.
Sacramento police said the painter, who lived in the city’s southern area, was at high-risk due to his old age and deteriorating state of health.
But the missing person’s case took a dreadful turn when police began suspecting foul play.
‘As detectives delved into it further, there appeared to be some suspicious circumstances with it,’ Sergeant Amar Gandhi of the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said on Friday.
‘From there, it did unfortunately evolve into a homicide investigation where detectives believe that he’d been murdered .’
Authorities identified Sayasane’s roommate, Benjamin Dougherty, 31, as the prime suspect and arrested him on Thursday morning in Petaluma.
The alleged killer kept a straight face, showing no emotion as cops patted him down and handcuffed him, footage shared by the sheriff’s office revealed.
Somboun Sayasane (pictured), 75, a Laos-born artist known for his hundreds of stunning depictions of California landscapes, was reported missing in December 2024
Authorities identified Sayasane’s roommate, Benjamin Dougherty (pictured), 31, as the prime suspect and arrested him on Thursday morning in Petaluma
Officers also tracked down the accused’s father, Robert Dougherty, 74, who they believe helped Benjamin dispose of the victim’s body, in a different part of Petaluma.
After they were taken into custody, detectives learned Sayasane was dumped in a remote, heavily-wooded area off the side of a road in Placerville, El Dorado County.
Police rushed to the scene and made the horrific discovery of the decaying corpse. Gandhi said his family has been notified.
Benjamin was charged with murder and is being held without bail, according to the sheriff’s office.
Robert was charged with being an Accessory After the Fact and has a bond set at $100,000.
‘Sayasane was one of the good ones,’ Rolling Stone journalist Ben Fong-Torres, who interviewed Sayasane nearly two decades ago, told SFGate.
‘He was all about positivity and community, and he had great times expressing himself through art and music.
‘He was humble about his talents but generous enough to share them with others, whether in Golden Gate Park or at a karaoke bar.’
Sayasane (pictured) grew up in a Laos jungle village, where he lived with his grandfather
In 2005, Sayasane published a book called ‘The Park in the City: Impressions of Golden Gate Park’ (pictured)
Sayasane’s creativity stemmed from his childhood in a Laos jungle village, where he lived with his grandfather.
As he once described to Fong-Torres, the area has no shops or schools – and he had access to electricity.
‘The village was surrounded by beautiful jungle…My grandfather taught me to love nature,’ he said in 2006.
Growing up with a mother who weaved intricate traditional tapestry and an admiration for the world around him, Sayasane went on to study art in Laos and Bangkok.
In the late 60s, he joined the Laos Armys Corps of Engineers and came to California for training. He also continued his arts education at the San Francisco Art Institute.
Sayasane established his permanent US residency when he became a refugee in 1975 because communist leader Pathet Lao had come into power in Laos.
Living in San Francisco, he drew great inspiration from the iconic Golden State Park – so much so that by 2005 he published a book devoted to the flagship location titled ‘The Park in the City: Impressions of Golden Gate Park.’
Living in San Francisco, he drew great inspiration from the iconic Golden State Park (pictured: one of Sayasane’s paintings)
Sayasane also owned Saya Fine Arts and Clothing, a small business that sold his uniquely styled artwork and merchandise featuring his designs
He was also the owner of Saya Fine Arts and Clothing, a small business, no longer in operation, that sold his uniquely styled artwork and merchandise featuring his designs.
The karaoke-loving artist created countless pieces, including hundreds of paintings of San Francisco churches and murals on the sides of school buildings.
‘Everywhere he goes, he’s always drawing,’ his friend Henry Arnold, told SFGate.
‘He’s a tremendous artist, and he’s a very good-hearted guy.’