Georgia authorities identify 1988 suitcase-dead woman as they “solve the mystery”.
Officials have announced that the body discovered in a suitcase inside a Georgia dumpster 35 years ago has been identified as that of a South Korean woman.
Donors funded DNA analysis which was utilized by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to confirm the identity of the remains found in rural Millen in February 1988 as that of Chong Un Kim, who was 26 years old at the time of his death.
In a statement, the sheriff’s office expressed their commitment to pursuing justice for Kim’s death and bringing closure to her family. Despite progress in the investigation, there is still much work to be done to unravel the mystery surrounding her untimely passing. The authorities remain determined to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to uncover the truth.
According to investigators, Kim relocated to the United States in 1981. She resided in Hinesville, which is located 70 miles south of Millen and adjoins Fort Stewart, for several years.
Despite using various methods such as fingerprints, dental records, and a forensic sketch, investigators were unable to identify Kim for several decades.
NAMUS delved into the case and generated a sketch using computer technology to aid in the investigation of the missing and unidentified persons.
The authorities were unable to match the DNA found at the scene with any existing records. As a result, the unidentified body came to be known as “Jane Millen Doe” and “Jenkins County Jane Doe”.
According to WJBF-TV, Sheriff Robert Oglesby, who took over the case from his predecessors, stated that despite interviewing several individuals who claimed to have witnessed something, they were unable to obtain any substantial leads.
Othram, a Texas-based company that leverages extensive genetic databases to match DNA with unknown relatives, was entrusted by GBI to analyze DNA evidence. According to Kristen Mittelman, the chief development officer at Othram, the company successfully created a DNA profile by using genetic material obtained from a blanket found with the body.
Earlier this month, investigators in Georgia informed Kim’s relatives that they had identified her body. According to GBI agents, Kim’s sister resides in New York and was notified of the identification.
Othram’s work was funded by Project Justice, a donor group dedicated to solving cold cases.
If you have any information regarding the case or knew Chong Un Kim, the GBI urges you to contact them at 912-871-1121. You may also submit anonymous tips by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), visiting their website at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by utilizing the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
