A woman whose body was found 35 years ago wrapped in plastic and duct tape and zipped inside a large suitcase has been identified thanks to new genome-sequencing technology.
Chong Un Kim, a Korean native who immigrated to Hinesville in South Georgia in 1981, was just 26 when she died, according to the GBI. Her body was found in a dumpster nearly 100 miles from her hometown on Valentine’s Day in 1988, but she could not be identified at the time. The GBI announced a positive identification Monday.
Investigators believe Kim died of asphyxiation between four and seven days before she was found, the GBI said. The discovery was made in Millen, a small town in Jenkins County on U.S. 25 between Statesboro and Augusta.
The GBI tried several different avenues to identify the body over the years. Her fingerprints and dental records were submitted to national databases, and a forensic artist created a sketch of her face. Later, her DNA was analyzed by the GBI crime lab and investigators built a computer-generated sketch of the victim.
Earlier this year, pieces of forensic evidence were sent to Othram, a Texas-based company that creates genealogical profiles of cold case victims using forensic-grade genome sequencing. Project Justice funded the testing, the GBI said.
“Based on the DNA, a genealogical search produced investigative leads that led to Kim’s identification,” special agent Lindsay Smith said in a news release. “The GBI notified Kim’s family in October 2023 about the identification.”
The GBI is still searching for anyone who may have known Kim or could have information about the case. They are asked to contact the GBI at 912-871-1121. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visiting the GBI’s tip website or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
