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Hooshang Vatanpour never talked about the dangers of being a cab driver in North Texas. That was because the 56-year-old Allen father of four was too busy working 12-to 14-hour days, his daughter said Tuesday.
And besides, for more than 20 years, Vatanpour had seen his share of danger in Iran as he was persecuted for his religious beliefs as a member of the Baha’i faith, Lida Vatanpour said Tuesday.“He had been through so much in Iran,” she said. “He took us out of there so we could have freedom of ideas and freedom to practice our religion.”Vatanpour was robbed and killed Thursday night as he worked to support his family.Vatanpour’s funeral was Monday, four days after the former Iranian Air Force helicopter pilot was beaten, fatally stabbed and then set on fire in Denton County near Alliance Airport after picking up two men in downtown Dallas.Noah Robert Whitehead, 23, of Roanoke; William Kirk Stephens, 22, of Haslet; and Mariesha Lynne Ohlfs, 32, of Argyle have been arrested on suspicion of capital murder. They were in the Denton County Jail Tuesday with bail set at $250,000 each.Fort Worth police said the two men also could be responsible for a June 28 Fort Worth holdup near Alliance Airport of a cab driver who ran for his life after giving the suspects his money.Family historyHooshang Vatanpour moved his family to Allen six years ago from Turkey, his daughter said Tuesday.The family had lived in Turkey only a few months to get away from the religious persecution in Iran. Lida Vatanpour said that persecution continues today with other Iranians.“My dad had it rough there,” she said. “He didn’t want us to go through it so he got us out and moved us to Turkey. While in Turkey, we had family in Texas and they talked about us coming here. Dad got us here as fast as he could.”Texas rootsHooshang Vatanpour brought his wife, two daughters and two sons to Allen in 2003, getting a job as a taxi driver within weeks of arriving in Texas.“It was a different culture for him,” Lida Vatanpour said Tuesday. “He knew a little English and he had been taking English courses to improve.”But most of all, Hooshang Vatanpour was finally happy.“He was the most wonderful dad,” his daughter said. “He was very loving and caring to us.”The tragic holdupDallas-based Freedom Cab records showed that Vatanpour picked up two men Thursday night near the downtown Dallas bus station, and they asked to go to Wichita Falls.Vatanpour last made contact at 7:45 p.m. Thursday.Justin firefighters found Vatanpour’s body slashed and burned Thursday night just west of Alliance Airport, authorities have said.Authorities traced the suspects using tips, tracking dogs and a surveillance camera that recorded one man as he bought beer at a convenience store a short drive from the crime scene.The suspects were arrested in Haltom City and Argyle.DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR. 817-390-7763
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