Identified! GA - Millen, AsianFem 113UFGA, 16-22, in suitcase in dumpster, Feb'88 - Chong Un Kim

[imstilla.grandma]

GBI identifies remains of Millen woman found dead in 1988

MILLEN, Ga. (WJBF) – The GBI has identified human remains found in a dumpster in Jenkins County on February 14, 1988, as Chong Un Kim, of Hinesville, Georgia. Kim was 26 years old when she wa…

www.wjbf.com

 

[John/Jane Doe]

https://www.facebook.com/100064413082979/posts/711872590969837

 

[victoriarobinson642]

SOLVED: After 35 Years, Jane Millen Doe is Identified

Wow! Wonderful news!

 

[cheemsg]

Wow, the OG recon was bang on.

 

[Friday Fan]

Wow, the OG recon was bang on.

I know.
The facial features are somewhat off, but the hair and even the clothes are spot on.

 

[Friday Fan]

She was 19 or 18 when she came to the US.

I wonder if she came on a student-work VISA? (Nursing would be an example)

Maybe that is why she wasn't reported missing?

 

[iamshadow21]

Wow, the OG recon was bang on.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking just now. Whoever did the drawing caught her really well.

 

[phantomstrider]

Wow! Wonderful news!

Good news. I was worried that she wouldn’t be identified to her being cremated.Rest in piece Chong Un Kim.

 

[Mrs. Badcrumble]

Your name is Chong Un Kim ♡


Few things brings me more joy than having to cross off girls from my signature line! Thank you, @othram -keep up the good work!

 

[heartanium]

Oh wow. Been following this case for a while, so glad she has her name back. Rest easy.

 

[othram]

Your name is Chong Un Kim ♡


Few things brings me more joy than having to cross off girls from my signature line! Thank you, @othram -keep up the good work!

Thanks for the support!

 

[Myrrh]

SOLVED: After 35 Years, Jane Millen Doe is Identified

Thank you Othram for your work! Seeing cases being solved with DNA even without remains gives me hope for older Does.

RIP Chong Un Kim.

 

[Teignmouth 22]

Thank you Othram for your work! Seeing cases being solved with DNA even without remains gives me hope for older Does.

RIP Chong Un Kim.

And gives me hope that one day we will see more people getting their name back here in the UK.

R.I.P. Kim

 

[imstilla.grandma]

In 2023, the GBI began working with Othram, a company that uses advanced DNA testing to solve cases. Othram, Inc., based in The Woodlands, Texas, is a leader in using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing to develop comprehensive genealogical profiles. The GBI sent forensic evidence to Othram, Inc. Based on the DNA, a genealogical search produced investigative leads that led to Kim’s identification. The GBI notified Kim’s family in October 2023 about the identification.

“Project Justice” funded the DNA testing.

Unidentified Woman from 1988 Cold Case Identified Using Genealogy Technology

Millen, Georgia (October 23, 2023) - The GBI has identified human remains found in a dumpster in Jenkins County on February 14, 1988, as Chong Un Kim, of Hinesville, Liberty County, Georgia. Kim was 26 years old when she was found.

gbi.georgia.gov

 

[Friday Fan]

I checked Family Search to see if their were any public records of her residing in Jenkinsville. but I couldn't figure out Korean names.
(Often people will appear in public records even after they have disappeared or deceased etc)

There was a someone with a similar name where she had been residing c 1990. (Middle name was slightly different, but sometimes it's that way with American names)

Went down a rabbit hole and found someone with the same name in California. It was a male.

So, I gave up. I really don't know how Korean names work.

Just because I couldn't find her, doesn't mean she wasn't there. Many times that info is obtained from homeowner records, voter registration etc, so I wasn't too hopeful.

 

[Susikatze]

That ID is trailblazing in so many ways.
IDing an immigrant from a population grossly underrepresented in DNA databases is absolutely huge!
And also making an ID without a body, just from minute traces of DNA left on the blanket she was wrapped in.

Well done, Othram. I hope this is just the beginning.

 

[othram]

That ID is trailblazing in so many ways.
IDing an immigrant from a population grossly underrepresented in DNA databases is absolutely huge!
And also making an ID without a body, just from minute traces of DNA left on the blanket she was wrapped in.

Well done, Othram. I hope this is just the beginning.

Friday we identified a homicide victim who was a first-generation immigrant from Portugal:

After 50 years, Coast Guard Jane Doe is Identified

San Diego Police Department Teams with Othram to Identify 1973 Homicide Victim

dnasolves.com

It is definitely just the beginning and as the technology develops further (and gets more broadly adopted), more and more families will get answers.

 

[Nancy Drew RN]

I checked Family Search to see if their were any public records of her residing in Jenkinsville. but I couldn't figure out Korean names.
(Often people will appear in public records even after they have disappeared or deceased etc)

There was a someone with a similar name where she had been residing c 1990. (Middle name was slightly different, but sometimes it's that way with American names)

Went down a rabbit hole and found someone with the same name in California. It was a male.

So, I gave up. I really don't know how Korean names work.

Just because I couldn't find her, doesn't mean she wasn't there. Many times that info is obtained from homeowner records, voter registration etc, so I wasn't too hopeful.

I searched on Ancestry, with a particular interest in immigration records. There are people with the same name, the right age, but nothing conclusively linked to Georgia, so, hard to say it's her.

 

[Dhighsmith]

People don’t just randomly end up in Hinesville, you would purposely locate there for employment or family. This may have already been mentioned but Hinesville is a rural farming area and home to Ft Stewart. Millen is North of Hinesville and also rural farming area. Midpoint between the two is Statesboro, which during late 80’s was in the early growth stages as Georgia Southern had launched its football program in early 80’s, so it was still a rural farming area.

Maybe insignificant but direct route between Hinesville and Millen takes you onto Ft Stewart that has a check point in allowing one to travel through Ft Stewart without having to drive further around the military base- it’s basically a short cut- you must show ID and vehicle is subject to search.

I’m curious if she might have had connection to Ft Stewart.

Edit: I personally think Hinesville too far of a commute to either Savannah or Brunswick.

 

[Friday Fan]

People don’t just randomly end up in Hinesville, you would purposely locate there for employment or family. This may have already been mentioned but Hinesville is a rural farming area and home to Ft Stewart. Millen is North of Hinesville and also rural farming area. Midpoint between the two is Statesboro, which during late 80’s was in the early growth stages as Georgia Southern had launched its football program in early 80’s, so it was still a rural farming area.

Maybe insignificant but direct route between Hinesville and Millen takes you onto Ft Stewart that has a check point in allowing one to travel through Ft Stewart without having to drive further around the military base- it’s basically a short cut- you must show ID and vehicle is subject to search.

I’m curious if she might have had connection to Ft Stewart.

Did you need to show an ID back then?

Our bases were pretty much open until 911