Joyce Chiang
Encyclopedia
Joyce Chiang was an attorney with the former Immigration and Naturalization Service
, who was murdered. Chiang disappeared on January 9, 1999, in Washington, D.C.
, and was later found dead. The story of her disappearance and the discovery of her remains in the Potomac River
, which drew only local news coverage at the time, was rediscovered and received some national attention in the wake of the similar disappearance of Chandra Levy
in May 2001.
ese immigrants. She was born in Chicago and raised in Chicago and California. She graduated from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
in 1988 and attended Smith College
in Northampton, Massachusetts
, where she served as president of the Student Government Association in her senior year and graduated in 1992.
Originally a summer intern, after graduation Chiang worked as a legislative aide in the office of Congressman Howard Berman
and attended evening classes at the Georgetown University Law Center
. She completed a law degree in 1995.
at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue NW and R Street NW. Joyce told her friend that she would walk the four blocks home from the coffee shop, but she never made it to her apartment. Because Joyce was a federal employee, the FBI took the lead in investigating the case.
A couple walking through Anacostia Park
the next day found Chiang's billfold and turned it in to park police, who filed it in the park's lost and found. Four days later, the couple recognized Chiang's photo in media coverage and alerted the FBI, who arranged a search of the park and discovered her apartment keys, video and grocery cards, and gloves. The jacket in which Chiang was last seen was also found, torn down the back.
Three months later and eight miles away, a canoeist on the Potomac River
found a badly decomposed body later identified through DNA analysis as Chiang's. The cause of death could not be determined, and for more than 12 years, the case was considered a cold case.
In 2001, at the height of the media frenzy surrounding the disappearance of Chandra Levy, police had attempted to defrock a serial killer theory by stating that Joyce had committed suicide. Joyce's family turned to the media to dispel that notion. In January 2011, WTTG-Fox 5 reported that the U.S. Attorney's Office and police had solved Joyce's murder, identifying two suspects who attempted to rob Joyce on the night she disappeared.
In May 2011, the Washington Post and other media reported the press conference at which DC police acknowledged that Chiang had not committed suicide. They said one suspect was in prison in Maryland for another offense and that another suspect was living in Guyana, which has no extradition treaty with the U.S.
would live, in Dupont Circle
. Both were young, brunette women of petite stature. The Starbucks where Chiang was last seen was later frequented by Levy. These similarities have led to various theories that both women were killed by the same person, although the Congressman-in-sex-scandal aspect of Levy's case, coupled with the long time that passed before her body was found, led to more media interest.
Much of the resurgence of interest in the Joyce Chiang case was spearheaded by her brother, former Democratic Party
political operative Roger Chiang, who along with their brother John
was instrumental in several televised and print appeals for more information on her case and disappearance.
The Joyce Chiang Memorial Award was established at Georgetown University by her friends and colleagues. It supports an evening student with a demonstrated commitment to public service.
, is Controller of the State of California.
During the three month span in which she was missing, a candlelight vigil was held every Saturday night in Dupont Circle.
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
, who was murdered. Chiang disappeared on January 9, 1999, in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and was later found dead. The story of her disappearance and the discovery of her remains in the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
, which drew only local news coverage at the time, was rediscovered and received some national attention in the wake of the similar disappearance of Chandra Levy
Chandra Levy
Chandra Ann Levy was an American intern at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C., who disappeared in May 2001. She was presumed murdered after her skeletal remains were found in Rock Creek Park in May 2002...
in May 2001.
Early life
Joyce Chiang was one of four children and the only daughter of TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
ese immigrants. She was born in Chicago and raised in Chicago and California. She graduated from the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools is a private, co-educational day school in Chicago, Illinois. It is affiliated with the University of Chicago...
in 1988 and attended Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in Northampton, Massachusetts
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, where she served as president of the Student Government Association in her senior year and graduated in 1992.
Originally a summer intern, after graduation Chiang worked as a legislative aide in the office of Congressman Howard Berman
Howard Berman
Howard Lawrence Berman is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2003. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He earlier served in the California State Assembly from 1974 to 1982, and as the U.S...
and attended evening classes at the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
. She completed a law degree in 1995.
Disappearance and death
On the day of Chiang's disappearance, she had met with several friends for a movie and dinner, and one of those friends offered Joyce a ride home. Joyce asked her friend to make one quick stop at the StarbucksStarbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue NW and R Street NW. Joyce told her friend that she would walk the four blocks home from the coffee shop, but she never made it to her apartment. Because Joyce was a federal employee, the FBI took the lead in investigating the case.
A couple walking through Anacostia Park
Anacostia Park
Anacostia Park is operated by the United States National Park Service. It is one of Washington, D.C.'s largest and most important recreation areas, with over 1200 acres at multiple sites. Included in Anacostia Park is Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens and Kenilworth Marsh...
the next day found Chiang's billfold and turned it in to park police, who filed it in the park's lost and found. Four days later, the couple recognized Chiang's photo in media coverage and alerted the FBI, who arranged a search of the park and discovered her apartment keys, video and grocery cards, and gloves. The jacket in which Chiang was last seen was also found, torn down the back.
Three months later and eight miles away, a canoeist on the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
found a badly decomposed body later identified through DNA analysis as Chiang's. The cause of death could not be determined, and for more than 12 years, the case was considered a cold case.
In 2001, at the height of the media frenzy surrounding the disappearance of Chandra Levy, police had attempted to defrock a serial killer theory by stating that Joyce had committed suicide. Joyce's family turned to the media to dispel that notion. In January 2011, WTTG-Fox 5 reported that the U.S. Attorney's Office and police had solved Joyce's murder, identifying two suspects who attempted to rob Joyce on the night she disappeared.
In May 2011, the Washington Post and other media reported the press conference at which DC police acknowledged that Chiang had not committed suicide. They said one suspect was in prison in Maryland for another offense and that another suspect was living in Guyana, which has no extradition treaty with the U.S.
Chandra Levy connection
In addition to the Congressional intern connection, Chiang had lived four blocks away from where murder victim Chandra LevyChandra Levy
Chandra Ann Levy was an American intern at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Washington, D.C., who disappeared in May 2001. She was presumed murdered after her skeletal remains were found in Rock Creek Park in May 2002...
would live, in Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is a traffic circle, park, neighborhood, and historic district in Northwest Washington, D.C. The traffic circle is located at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue NW, Connecticut Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue NW, P Street NW, and 19th Street NW...
. Both were young, brunette women of petite stature. The Starbucks where Chiang was last seen was later frequented by Levy. These similarities have led to various theories that both women were killed by the same person, although the Congressman-in-sex-scandal aspect of Levy's case, coupled with the long time that passed before her body was found, led to more media interest.
Much of the resurgence of interest in the Joyce Chiang case was spearheaded by her brother, former Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
political operative Roger Chiang, who along with their brother John
John Chiang (California politician)
John Chiang is a Democratic politician and has been California State Controller since January 8, 2007. He previously served as Chair of the California Board of Equalization and represented the Fourth District, primarily serving southern Los Angeles County...
was instrumental in several televised and print appeals for more information on her case and disappearance.
Remembrances
The Joyce Chiang Memorial Scholarship was established with the help of her family, to support one student each year with an internship at the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC) in Washington, D.C.The Joyce Chiang Memorial Award was established at Georgetown University by her friends and colleagues. It supports an evening student with a demonstrated commitment to public service.
Personal life
Joyce Chiang's brother, John ChiangJohn Chiang (California politician)
John Chiang is a Democratic politician and has been California State Controller since January 8, 2007. He previously served as Chair of the California Board of Equalization and represented the Fourth District, primarily serving southern Los Angeles County...
, is Controller of the State of California.
During the three month span in which she was missing, a candlelight vigil was held every Saturday night in Dupont Circle.
External links
- Joe Harten, Georgetown Joins the Search For Missing Law School Alum, The Hoya, January 26, 1999
- Congressional Record, Farewell to Joyce Chiang, April 13, 1999
- Sam Chu Lin, Search for Chandra Levy Reopens Wounds for Family of Joyce Chiang, AsianWeek, July 27, 2001, page 11
- http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/new-developments-in-death-of-prominent-federal-attorney-joyce-chiang-012511