Crack-Addicted Dad Throws 4 Kids Off Bridge

(Bayou La Batre, Alabama) A 37-year-old immigrant shrimper and father-of-four, Lam Luong, has been charged with four counts of capital murder after he allegedly confessed to throwing his four young children off a bridge into the Intracoastal Waterway.

Missing and presumed dead were 4-month-old Danny Luong; 1-year-old Lindsey Luong; 2-year-old Hannah Luong; and 3-year-old Ryan Phan. Phan is not the man's biological child, but Luong raised him from infancy, authorities said.

About 70 people in boats and helicopters searched water as deep as 55 feet. The search area covered 100 square miles because the current might have swept the children away, Sheriff Sam Cochran said.

The search was called off late Wednesday afternoon when dense fog rolled in, completely obscuring the bridge. It was to resume in the morning, weather permitting.

After an argument with his wife, 23-year-old Ngoc Phan, Luong took the children. Subsequently, the family expressed fears that Luong would sell the children to support his drug habit.

According to authorities, Luong has a history of drug abuse. His crack-cocaine habit resulted in a possession arrest in October which remains to be adjudicated. Luong also recently smoked through an insurance settlement from an auto accident.

An appearance in Mobile County Court is scheduled for tomorrow.

Lam Luong came to the U.S. from Vietnam as a young teen in 1984.