Since being charged with murder in 1998, Seiha Srey was dogged by the image many had of him, as a violent, gun-toting individual who was mixed up in gangs, according to his former guardian, Nance Monaghan.

But that image did not fit the Seiha Srey that Monaghan knew – a sweet, soft-spoken kid who struggled with insecurities, low self-esteem and many disappointments in life.

Srey, 25, of Cape Elizabeth, was found dead in a wooded area at the back of the parking lot at the Howard Sports Center on North Street in Saco early Sunday morning. Police believe Srey was shot in the head by Andy Luong, 22, of Biddeford, after the two got into a fight about drug money during a private party being held at Howard Sports on Saturday night.

According to Steve McCausland, Maine State Police spokesman, Srey and Luong were arguing at the party and were asked to leave. The fight extended out into the parking lot, where at some point Srey pulled out a .45-caliber handgun and someone gave Luong an AK-47 assault rifle. The men exchanged at least 15 shots as about 40 onlookers dove for cover or ran for safety.

“This was not an eye-for-an-eye kind of a thing,” said Monaghan, who took Srey into her Cape Elizabeth home for about five months after he was released from jail on the charges brought against him in 1998.

“Seiha was not a murderer,” she said.

“I just wonder how long he laid there before he died,” Monaghan said. “That’s what bothers me.”

Luong died after fleeing the scene of the shootout in Saco and leading police on a car chase from Buxton into Gorham, where police fired shots after stopping Luong’s vehicle with spike mats.

Luong was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy on Monday revealed that Luong committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth, according to the state medical examiner’s office.

For Srey, it was a dramatic and tragic end to a life that had been troubled since he was charged with stabbing Gorham High School student Robert Joyal in a Denny’s parking lot nine years ago. After nearly two years in jail, Srey was released. He then moved from Portland to live with Monaghan’s family in Cape Elizabeth.

“It was a real easy decision,” said Monaghan, now of Portland, who met Srey when she was working as a private investigator on the Joyal murder.

“I would make that same decision again in a heartbeat,” she said.

Monaghan said that when she took him in, she didn’t think there would be a problem getting him into Cape Elizabeth schools, but there was.

Thomas Forcella, Cape Elizabeth’s superintendent at the time, said Tuesday he did not initially allow Srey to attend classes because he feared the safety of other students was at risk – not just because of Srey, he said, but because of the alleged gang activity surrounding the case.

He said Srey met with a tutor in the library of the school until the murder charges were dropped. At that point, Forcella said, he had to allow Srey to enroll in the school. He said Srey attended irregularly for no more than a couple of months. Forcella is now superintendent of schools in Guilford, Conn.

Monaghan said Srey was bright and mathematically gifted. She said he had a hard time with languages and was better at expressing himself on paper than he was verbally. She said he got frustrated when he wasn’t able to do something.

According to Monaghan, not being allowed into Cape Elizabeth schools was another blow to Srey’s self-esteem.

“He took things very hard,” she said.

Though Monaghan said the situation with the school was “handled very, very poorly,” she said there were some students and teachers who reached out to Srey. Still, she said, having the doors closed on him the first time was too much for him.

“He just never felt like he fit in,” she said.

Monaghan said Srey was not a violent person and the events that have surrounded his life are shocking to her. She said she believes, in his death, more people who were at Denny’s the night Joyal was murdered will come forward, proving Srey’s innocence.

“He was not the crazy gun-waving guy that people make him out to be,” she said. “I never saw that guy.”

Monaghan said Srey was the youngest of nine children in “a beautiful, loving family” that was always supportive of him and even spoiled him. She said they are devastated. According to Monaghan, Srey had been living with a relative in Cape Elizabeth at the time of his murder.

“They never saw this evil side of Seiha,” she said. “They never will, I guess.”

Seiha Srey was found dead in a wooded area at the back of the parking lot at the Howard Sports Center in Saco early Sunday morning. Police believe Srey was shot in the head by Andy Luong of Biddeford, 22, during an altercation about drug money.

Copy the Story Link