Breakthrough in 35-year-old cold case: GBI identifies Chong Un Kim, victim found in 1988
JENKINS COUNTY, Ga. - The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has made a significant breakthrough in a decades-old cold case, identifying the human remains found in a dumpster in Jenkins County on February 14, 1988, as those of Chong Un Kim, a 26-year-old woman from Hinesville in Liberty County.
Chong Un Kim, who had immigrated to the United States from Korea in 1981, had resided in Hinesville for several years before her untimely death in 1988. Her tragic case came to light on that fateful Sunday afternoon in 1988 when the GBI received a request from the Jenkins County Sheriff’s Office to assist in a death investigation.
The victim, whose body was wrapped with plastic and duct tape, was discovered inside a large nylon suitcase that had been placed in a dumpster just north of Millen in Jenkins County. According to forensic evidence, the victim had been deceased for approximately four to seven days before her discovery, and the cause of death was asphyxiation.
The case had remained unsolved for over three decades, with investigators initially using fingerprints and dental records to compare the victim's identity to missing persons from across the country. To aid the investigation, a GBI forensic artist created a sketch of what the victim might have looked like, which was shared with the public. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NAMUS) opened a case, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) disseminated a computer-generated sketch. Despite these efforts, the victim's identity remained a mystery.
As advancements in DNA technology occurred over the years, law enforcement periodically submitted evidence to the GBI Crime Lab for further testing. While DNA was discovered on the items submitted, the profiles obtained did not meet the criteria for entry into the CODIS DNA Database.
In 2023, a pivotal turning point in the case emerged as the GBI partnered with Othram, Inc., a company based in The Woodlands, Texas, renowned for using advanced DNA testing to solve cold cases. Othram specializes in Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop comprehensive genealogical profiles. The GBI dispatched forensic evidence to Othram, Inc., and, thanks to the DNA analysis, a genealogical search produced investigative leads that ultimately led to the identification of Chong Un Kim.
It was only in October 2023 that the GBI was able to inform Kim's family about the positive identification, ending a 35-year-long period of uncertainty.
The DNA testing was funded under the project known as "Project Justice."
The GBI is now seeking the cooperation of anyone who may have known Chong Un Kim or has information related to this case. They can contact the GBI at 912-871-1121. Additionally, anonymous tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at GBI's website, or through the See Something, Send Something mobile app. The GBI hopes that new information may provide additional insight into the circumstances surrounding Chong Un Kim's tragic death.