Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

Murder of Girly Chew Hassencrofft

Girly Chew Hossencofft (August27, 1963 – September 9, 1999) was a Malaysian-born woman whodisappeared on September 9, 1999, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Theinvestigation into the murder of Girly Chew revealed a conspiracytheory involving reptilian queens, UFOs and reports of cannibalism. Girly Chew's husband Diazien Hossencofft and his girlfriend LindaHenning were convicted of her murder. Girly's body has never beenfound.

People involved

Girly Chew was born on August 27, 1963,in Malaysia. During a visit to the United States in the early 1990s,she met Diazien Hossencofft at SeaWorld. In 1993, Girly and Diazienmarried. They resided in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Girly wasemployed as a bank teller. In January 1999, Girly moved out of thecouple's home and filed for divorce after a domestic violenceincident where Diazien had threatened to kill her. She confided inher co-workers that she was afraid of her husband after she found outhe was not a doctor and was using a fake name.

Diazien Hossencofft

Diazien Hossencofft was born ArmandChavez in Houston, Texas, on March 5, 1965. He falsely claimed thathe was a thoracic surgeon with degrees from the University of Tokyoand Cornell Medical College. In reality, he was a con artist whohad doctored his transcripts and was expelled from medical school. Following his expulsion, he changed his name to Diazien Hossencofftand married Girly Chew. Diazien continued to trick people intobelieving he was a geneticist who claimed to have leukemia; he soldfake cancer treatments to clients, who would pay thousands of dollarsfor anti-aging injections. In 1996, he fathered a son with a Japanesewoman living in Canada. In 1999, while still married to his wifeGirly, he was engaged to three different women, including LindaHenning.

Linda Henning

Linda Henning was born on October 10,1953, in Hollywood, California. After high school, she worked as afashion model, and later became a successful fashion designer. In1999, Linda met Diazien, and she quickly broke up with her fiance andbecame engaged to Diazien. Linda and Diazien shared an interest ingovernment conspiracy theories and UFOs.

Crime and investigation

On the morning of September 10, 1999,Girly Chew Hossencofft failed to show up for work. Her co-workersimmediately became concerned about Girly's welfare and reported hermissing that day. Diazien Hossencofft was the prime suspect in theinvestigation, but he had left for Charleston, South Carolina, thatvery day. Investigators then focused their attention on Girly Chew'sapartment and Diazien Hossencofft's girlfriend, Linda Henning. InsideGirly's apartment, the investigators noticed the smell of bleach. Using luminol, they found considerable blood evidence.

Following the search of Girly Chew'sapartment, police questioned Henning, who appeared as a personalreference of Diazien. In her interview, she claimed that she believedthat Diazien was an accomplished doctor and that she had no knowledgeof Girly Chew Hossencofft's disappearance. She later stated to aninvestigative grand jury that she did not even know Diazien's missingwife, but police were able to prove that she was lying. Investigatorsshowed that Linda had banked at the branch where Girly worked, andthat Girly had been Linda's teller on at least one occasion. LindaHenning was charged with perjury for lying to the grand jury inOctober 1999.

In Henning's home, investigatorsrecovered a ninja sword in her attic, which was purchased on themorning of Girly's murder. Days after Girly Chew's disappearance,her clothing was found on a tarpaulin in Belen, New Mexico. Alongwith Girly's clothing, investigators discovered a piece of duct tapewith Linda Henning's hair attached. She and Diazien Hossencofft wereindicted and charged with murder.

Trial

In January 2002, in an effort to avoidthe death penalty, Diazien Hossencofft pleaded guilty to the murderof his wife. In exchange for his plea bargain, he was sentenced tolife in prison plus 61 years to be served in Wyoming StatePenitentiary.

Linda Henning's murder trial began inSeptember 2002, more than three years after Girly Chew Hossencofft'sdisappearance. The trial was later televised on CourtTV. She was thefirst woman in New Mexico history to face capital punishment. Linda'sfriends believed that she had been brainwashed and drugged byDiazien. Onlookers noted Linda's strange actions as forensicinvestigators testified for the prosecution.

During the trial, Linda Henning'sattorneys Gary Mitchell and Monica Baca called Diazien Hossencofft totestify in Linda's defense. On the stand, he proclaimed that he hadmasterminded the murder of his wife and that Linda Henning wascompletely innocent. He claimed that a man named Bill Miller wasGirly Chew Hossencofft's true killer, and not Linda Henning as theprosecutors had theorized. Bill Miller had been charged in theinvestigation, but only with five counts of tampering with evidence.Regarding Linda's blood found in Girly's apartment, Diazien hadclaimed that he planted her blood there. Even though Diazientestified that he planted Linda's blood in an effort to confuseinvestigators, Linda's attorney believed that Diazien meant to frameLinda for the crime.

Verdict

On October 25, 2002, Linda Henning wasfound guilty of first degree murder. She was also convicted ofkidnapping, conspiracy to kidnap, tampering with evidence, and fourcounts of perjury. Due to the special circumstances of felony murderand kidnapping, Linda faced the death penalty.

Linda Henning's sentencing was held onApril 18, 2003. Before her sentencing date, prosecutor Paul Spierswrote in his presentence investigation report that Linda Henning "hadmade statements that she had actually consumed the flesh of GirlyChew Hossencofft and that, as a consequence, her remains and bodywould never be recovered by authorities." Despite theallegation, Linda was not given a death sentence. Instead, she wassentenced to 73 years in prison.

For his role in the crime, Bill Millerreceived one year of probation.

Aftermath

In 2010, Linda's perjury convictionswere overturned by the New Mexico Supreme Court, however all of herother convictions and her sentence were affirmed.

The story of Girly Chew Hossencofft'smurder has been televised on Crime Stories, Court TV, AmericanJustice, The Investigators, Snapped, Monstresses, Sins and Secretsand I'd Kill For You.

Albuquerque television journalist MarkHorner wrote a book about the murder of Girly Chew Hossencofft,entitled September Sacrifice.