Two arrested in connection with 2018 homicide of hunter

BATH TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WILX) - Two men have been arrested in connection with the homicide of a hunter in Bath Township more than four years later.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced the arrests on Thursday - 4 years, 1 month, and 6 days after Chong Moua Yang was found shot and killed at the Rose Lake State Game Area.

Thomas Olson, 34, of Grand Blanc Township, and Robert Rodway, 34, of Saint Johns were arrested late Wednesday night by the Michigan State Police Fugitive Team for the 2018 cold case homicide.

Previous coverage: Bath Township police seeks information in hunter’s 2018 death

Olson and Rodway were arraigned Thursday in 65A District Court in Clinton County with:

One count of Felony Murder
- a felony that carries a life sentence without the possibility of parole
One count of Felony Firearm
- a two-year felony

Chong Moua Yang was found dead in the Rose Lake game area in November 2018. His backpack, gun,... — Chong Moua Yang was found dead in the Rose Lake game area in November 2018. His backpack, gun, and traditional Hmong hunting knife were missing. The FBI, Bath Township Police, and Yang family asked for the public's help in finding who is responsible for his death.(WILX/FBI/Yang Family)

Yang frequently hunted in the Rose Lake State Game Area, but his wife was alarmed when he hadn’t returned home. When his family arrived at the area to search for him, they found his car in the parking lot. They then followed two sets of footprints which led them to his body.

When police arrived, they found the victim lying face down with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. His gun and other items were missing.

A $20,000 reward had been offered for information about Yang’s death.

According to the Attorney General’s office, witness testimony and a plastic bag with hunting spray that was recovered near the scene led police to Olson and Rodway. Nessel alleges that the defendants killed Yang while hunting, and stole the victim’s headlamp, knife, backpack, and shotgun.

More: Police: Gun, backpack missing after hunter fatally shot

“The Bath Township Police Department worked closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other local agencies and prosecutors to gather evidence, establish a timeline of events, and locate the defendants,” said Nessel. “I am grateful for their persistence and hard work in pursuing this case. Chong Yang’s family deserves justice, and we are working hard to make sure they receive it.”

Yang’s family released the following statement after the arrest announcement:

For the last four years, we have struggled with the knowledge that someone out there decided to end Chong Moua’s life and leave him to die alone in the woods. But today, Thursday, December 22, 2022, marks the first day that we can come up for a little fresh air.
With the arrest of two men, Thomas Olson and Robert Rodway comes bittersweet emotions of excitement and anxiousness. We admit that during these last four years of the investigation, there were times when we were angry, frustrated, and impatient with the whole process. But…we never lost hope.
We never lost hope that through the diligent effort of Bath Township, the FBI, and numerous other agencies, we would be able to find answers. We never lost hope that someone, somewhere would be able to provide information that would lead to the arrest of these killers. Today is the start of the journey to finding answers and closure. We start that journey of holding the people who killed Chong Moua responsible for their actions.
We want to thank the law enforcement community for their commitment to this case. The hunting community for their unwavering support for one of their hunting brothers. And the community as a whole, those near and far, for all their love and support during the darkest time in our lives.
We know that the arrests are only the first steps in this chapter, but are encouraged that the Attorney General’s office will pursue this matter diligently, and bring these men to justice.
Family of Chong Moua Yang

Each year, on the anniversary of Yang’s death, Bath Township Police would remind the public of the case, and urge anyone with information to come forward.

Olson and Rodway are scheduled for a probable cause conference on January 5, 2023, and a preliminary hearing on January 12, 2023.

Both are being held without bond and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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